The Stationmaster Raises the Flag

Children form three-car trains holding shoulders and wait at the station; when the stationmaster raises the green flag the whole train sets off together, and with the red one it stops dead without anyone letting go. It practices coordinated group reaction and controlled stopping.

How to play

1. Form trains of three: the engine in front and two cars with hands on shoulders; each train waits at its station, a hoop (2 min).
2. The teacher shows two flags: green, the train goes; red, the train stops dead with a "Shhh!" (1 min).
3. Starts and stops: on green the trains go around the playground, and on red all the cars brake at once without bumping (3 min).
4. Switch engines so everyone drives; the teacher hides the flag and whips it out suddenly (3 min).
5. The trains roll slowly back to their stations and the passengers get off with a stretch (1 min).

Rules

• Green, we go; red, we stop.
• I don't let go of the shoulders in front of me.
• The engine watches the flag and takes care of the train.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair is the engine, and the cars gently hold the sides of the chair.
• Visual impairment: the child rides as the middle car, and the engine calls "Go!" or "Stop!" out loud.
• Hearing impairment: works as is since the flags are visual; let the child be the engine often.

Learning goals

• React as a group to visual start and stop signals.
• Match speed with classmates.
• Stop suddenly without losing contact or bumping.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Colored scarves: 2
• Hoops: 8

Teacher tip

Use big scarves in clearly different colors (green and red) and stand on a low bench so every engine can see you. The typical mistake is the engine stopping and the cars piling into it, so practice the stop at a walk.

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