New
New
Year 8

Global transport routes

I can describe global transport routes and explain the importance of the Suez Canal in global trade.

New
New
Year 8

Global transport routes

I can describe global transport routes and explain the importance of the Suez Canal in global trade.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Container ships transport products across the world.
  2. Many container ships take products from eastern China to western Europe through a series of 'choke points'.
  3. The Suez Canal is an important route for global trade from Asia to Europe.
  4. In 2021 the Ever Given became stuck in the Suez Canal, delaying global trade.

Keywords

  • Containerisation - using containers to transport goods by ships, road and rail

  • Choke point - narrow passageways of water in global transport routes

  • Global trade - the exchange of goods, money and services between countries

  • Cargo - goods carried by ships, road, rail and aircraft

Common misconception

The Suez Canal is only important for the Middle East.

The Suez Canal is important globally as 30% of all global container traffic and 12% of all global trade passes through the canal.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Global transport routes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Start the lesson by asking pupils to use atlases to work out what route ships will use to transport products from China to the UK. This will help pupils engage with the content as they may see the chokepoints for themselves.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is globalisation?

Correct answer: The process of countries becoming more connected and interdependent
The spread of local cultures
The development of new languages
The closing of international borders

Q2.
Which of these is an example of globalisation?

Local farmers only selling within their village
People staying in one country their whole lives
Correct answer: A company opening branches in multiple countries
The invention of the wheel

Q3.
What has helped make globalisation easier?

Limited travel and communication
Correct answer: Advances in technology, especially in transport and the internet
Isolating countries from each other
Less access to international trade

Q4.
Which of the following is an effect of globalisation?

More isolated communities
Fewer jobs available globally
Local cultures disappearing completely
Correct answer: Increased cultural exchange and sharing

Q5.
What is a negative impact of globalisation?

More travel between countries
Correct answer: Exploitation of workers and environmental damage
More cultural understanding
Better quality products

Q6.
Which of these is a global company?

A local coffee shop in your town
A family-run bakery
A single bookshop
Correct answer: McDonald's

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a major reason transport routes are important for globalisation?

They only connect cities within the same country
They reduce the number of businesses
Correct answer: They help goods, services, and people travel across the world
They allow countries to become isolated

Q2.
Which of these is an example of a global transport route?

A road connecting two villages
Correct answer: The shipping routes between Asia and Europe
A local bus service within a city

Q3.
The __________ canal is important globally as 30% of all global container traffic and 12% of all global trade passes through the canal.

Panama
Correct answer: Suez
Amsterdam

Q4.
What is one challenge of more global transport routes as a result of globalisation?

Faster movement of people
Decrease in the number of goods being traded
More local jobs
Correct answer: Environmental pollution and carbon emissions