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Maths In Jobs

Be a junior delivery driver for a day maths challenge

An imaginative role-play challenge where children use routes, distance, time and maps like a real delivery driver.

Quick answer

You can be a junior delivery driver for a day and use maths to work out how far you travel, how long it takes, and how many stops you need to make.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use maps, distance, time, and simple maths to plan a delivery route like a real delivery driver. Success signs:
  • You can read a simple map and follow a route
  • You can count how many stops you need to make
  • You can add up distances to find the total journey
  • You can tell the time it takes to travel between stops

Why this matters

Delivery drivers use maths every day to make sure packages get to the right place on time. You use maths when you plan your journey, add up how many items you need to deliver, and work out how long it takes. Whether you're helping your family with shopping, walking the dog, or planning a trip, you're already using delivery driver maths!

How it works

To be a junior delivery driver, you need to:
  1. Look at a map of your area
  2. Find your delivery stops
  3. Measure the distance between stops
  4. Time how long it takes to travel
  5. Add up all your journeys to find the total distance

Examples you can see

Imagine you are delivering letters to 4 houses in your street. You start at your house and go to:
  • House 1: 200 metres away
  • House 2: 150 metres from House 1
  • House 3: 100 metres from House 2
  • House 4: 50 metres from House 3
To find the total distance you travel:
  • House 1: 200 metres
  • House 2: 200 + 150 = 350 metres
  • House 3: 350 + 100 = 450 metres
  • House 4: 450 + 50 = 500 metres
So you travel 500 metres in total to deliver all the letters.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Be a Junior Delivery Driver for a Day! You are going to be a delivery driver for a day, delivering toys to your friends' houses. Here's your delivery route:
  1. Start at your house
  2. Go to Emma's house (100 metres)
  3. Go to Liam's house (120 metres from Emma's)
  4. Go to Mia's house (80 metres from Liam's)
  5. Go back to your house (150 metres from Mia's)
Your challenge: Add up all the distances to find the total journey.
  1. Emma's house: 100 metres
  2. Liam's house: 100 + 120 = 220 metres
  3. Mia's house: 220 + 80 = 300 metres
  4. Back home: 300 + 150 = 450 metres
You travel 450 metres in total! Now, let's think about time. If you walk at a speed of 100 metres per minute:
  • Emma's house: 100 ÷ 100 = 1 minute
  • Liam's house: 120 ÷ 100 = 1.2 minutes (1 minute and 12 seconds)
  • Mia's house: 80 ÷ 100 = 0.8 minutes (48 seconds)
  • Back home: 150 ÷ 100 = 1.5 minutes (1 minute and 30 seconds)
Your total time is 1 + 1.2 + 0.8 + 1.5 = 4.5 minutes.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to add up all the distances
    Why it happens: You might only look at one stop and not think about the whole journey
    Fix: Make a list of each stop and add them one by one
  • Mistake: Mixing up metres and centimetres
    Why it happens: Sometimes numbers look similar and can be confusing
    Fix: Always check if you're working in metres or centimetres and keep your units clear
  • Mistake: Not using a map or drawing your route
    Why it happens: It's easy to get confused if you don't see your path
    Fix: Draw your route on paper or use a map to help you see the stops

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Setting up a simple delivery route with toy packages
  • Using a map or drawing the route on paper
  • Measuring distances using a ruler or steps
  • Timing the journey with a stopwatch or phone
  • Encouraging children to add up the distances
  • Helping with time calculations (like 1.5 minutes = 1 minute and 30 seconds)
How to help in 5-10 minutes:
  1. Draw a simple map of your street or local area
  2. Choose 3-5 stops for delivery
  3. Measure the distances between stops
  4. Count the total distance and time
  5. Make it fun by pretending to be a real delivery driver
What to watch for:
  • Children might mix up units (metres and centimetres)
  • They may not add all the distances
  • They might get confused with time calculations

Practice questions

  1. How far do you travel if you go to 3 stops: 50 metres, 75 metres, and 125 metres?
  2. If a delivery takes 200 metres and you make 4 stops, how far do you travel?
  3. You walk 100 metres to the post office, then 150 metres to the shop, then 75 metres to the park. How far do you walk in total?
  4. How long does it take to travel 300 metres at a speed of 100 metres per minute?
  5. If you travel 250 metres to the library, 100 metres to the café, and 150 metres back home, how far do you travel?
Answers:
  1. 50 + 75 + 125 = 250 metres
  2. 200 × 4 = 800 metres
  3. 100 + 150 + 75 = 325 metres
  4. 300 ÷ 100 = 3 minutes
  5. 250 + 100 + 150 = 500 metres

FAQ

How can I use this delivery driver maths at home?

You can plan trips, measure distances, and calculate time. Try planning how to get from your bedroom to the kitchen, then to the garden, and back again.

Do I need to know multiplication to be a delivery driver?

Not at all! You can use addition to add up distances. But if you know multiplication, you can multiply the distance by the number of stops to find the total quickly.

What if I don't have a map?

You can draw your own map or use a simple drawing of your street. You can even use a piece of paper to mark where your stops are.

Is this real job maths?

Yes! Real delivery drivers use these same skills to plan routes, check distances, and make sure packages arrive on time.

Can I do this with my friends?

Absolutely! You can each be a delivery driver and help each other plan routes, measure distances, and calculate time.