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      Global transportation of goods

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe how different types of goods are transported from producers to supermarkets and evaluate the costs and benefits of different forms of transport.

      Key learning points

      1. Different types of goods are transported using different forms of transport.
      2. Different factors influence which mode of transport is used.
      3. The place of origin, distance travelled, weight, perishability and value of products all influence transport choices.
      4. Transporting goods long distances has costs as well as benefits.
      5. Greater food miles are worse for the environment and contribute towards global warming.

      Keywords

      • Place of origin - The place of origin is the place where something first comes from.

      • Costs and benefits - The costs and benefits are the bad things and good things about something.

      • Perishability - Perishability is a measure of how quickly something (usually food) will go rotten.

      • Food miles - Food miles measure the distance between where a food is grown or made to where it is eaten.

      • Carbon footprint - A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases that are released as a result of our actions.

      Common misconception

      The UK grows most of its own food.

      We import about 50% of the food we eat.

      Teacher tip

      Students could do research on different food items and where they come from.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the global supply chain?

      things that are made through the process of manufacturing (often in factories)
      the distance that food travels
      the world that surrounds us
      Correct answer: the journey travelled by goods

      Q2.
      Which form of transport is not normally used in the global supply chain?

      Correct answer: car
      train
      ship

      Q3.
      What are costs and benefits?

      Correct answer: the bad and good things about something
      the price of something
      how long it takes to make something

      Q4.
      Which of the these is an example of something we import into the UK?

      Correct answer: bananas
      newspapers
      education

      Q5.
      Where something comes from is called its place of...

      original
      Correct answer: origin
      birth

      Q6.
      What is a carbon footprint?

      Correct answer: a measure of greenhouse gases that are released as a result of our actions
      a measure of what we buy
      a measure of what we sell

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the place of origin?

      the place where something is thrown away
      the place where something is sold
      Correct answer: the place where something comes from

      Q2.
      Which of these are used to transport goods?

      lorry
      ship
      train
      aeroplane
      Correct answer: all of the above

      Q3.
      Which of these are advantages of using ships to transport goods?

      Correct answer: can go long distances
      fast
      Correct answer: transport large amounts

      Q4.
      Which of the following are disadvantages of using ships to transport goods?

      Correct answer: slow
      Correct answer: less secure
      cheap

      Q5.
      What is a measure of how quickly a food will spoil?

      lifecycle
      Correct answer: perishability
      probability

      Q6.
      What is a carbon footprint?

      Correct answer: the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by one person
      the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by a whole country
      the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by a car

      To help you plan your 6 geography lesson on: Global transportation of goods, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...