Crossing at the Crosswalk

In a town drawn on the playground, children walk along the sidewalks and cross the street at the crosswalk only when the light is green, stopping, looking and walking, never running. It works on walking and stopping on a signal and on pedestrian safety.

How to play

1. We draw sidewalks, a street and a crosswalk with chalk; cones mark the corners and the teacher holds the traffic light (2 min).
2. We walk along the sidewalk holding a classmate's hand, like when we're out with our family (2 min).
3. We reach the crosswalk: stop at the curb, look at the light and wait (3 min).
4. When it's green, we look both ways and walk across, stepping only on the white stripes (3 min).
5. Some children are cars on the street and only drive when the light is red for walkers (3 min).
6. We review in a circle: where do we cross? Which color lets us go? Do we run across? (2 min).

Rules

• When the light is red, walkers wait at the curb.
• When it's green, I look both ways and walk across.
• Walk across the crosswalk, don't run.
• Cars stop when people are crossing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: make the crosswalk wide with a painted curb ramp for the wheelchair.
• Visual impairment: the light also makes a sound (fast drum taps for green), like accessible crossing signals.
• Autism: show photos of their street or the crosswalk by the school before playing.

Learning goals

• Stop and wait at a signal.
• Walk across carefully.
• Learn basic rules for getting around town safely.

Equipment for a class of 25

• sidewalk chalk: 3
• red and green traffic light cards: 2
• cones: 6

Teacher tip

Connect it to their real walk to school; little ones transfer it right away. Stress that on a real street, we always cross holding a grown-up's hand.

More main activities for Elementary