Safe Neighborhood Route with a Street Map
In groups of four, students follow a street map of the neighborhood around the school to find six points of interest and answer a question at each one, always following pedestrian safety rules. Students practice urban navigation, independence and safe active travel.
How to play
- Prepare a map of the area around the school with 6 marked points (fountain, park, statue, bus stop...) inside a closed loop of quiet streets. Write one question per point on a card.
- Before leaving, spend 4 minutes reviewing the rules: cross only at crosswalks, stay on the sidewalk and never split up. Each group wears pinnies of one color.
- Form groups of 4 with roles: navigator, question reader, traffic safety lookout and recorder. Each group starts at a different point.
- Groups walk briskly to each point, answer the question on the card and check the map for the next stop. They have 20 minutes.
- Station teachers and staff at the main intersections. After 20 minutes, everyone returns to the meeting point marked on the map.
- Award 1 point per correct answer and subtract 2 if the group is late or anyone got separated.
Rules
- Always cross at crosswalks on the walk signal, with the whole group together.
- No running on the sidewalk and no going into stores or building entrances.
- The group never splits up; if there is a problem, head back to the meeting point.
- Respect neighbors: keep voices down and do not climb on benches or street fixtures.
Variations
Easier
Run the route on school grounds with a campus map and 4 points.
Standard
Use 6 points inside a closed loop of quiet streets.
Harder
Add a task: draw the shortest route between points on the map and measure it with the scale.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: plan the route with curb cuts and no stairs, and check it in advance.
- Autism: preview the outing with photos of each point and assign the recorder role with a clear task.
- Lower fitness: the group picks the 4 closest of the 6 points.
Learning goals
- Read a street map and connect it to real streets and buildings.
- Follow pedestrian safety rules during an activity in the community.
- Manage time and group roles independently.
Equipment for a class of 25
- maps: 7
- pinnies: 25
- first-aid kit: 1
- cards: 7
Teacher tip
You need permission slips and at least two adults. Walk the route first, bring the first-aid kit and a phone, and stick to low-traffic streets.
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