Activity 7:
Red Light, Green Light  

 
 

Purpose

  • To introduce and/or review with participants the basic idea of stoplights and stop signs  

  • To engage participants in active discovery and practice of proper stoplight procedures  

Materials

  • A green and red paddle/cardboard or a pair of green and a pair of red gloves  

  • Brightly coloured rocks or balls  

  • Masking tape, road chalk, or pylons (15-20)  

  • Speed Bump & Short Cut Cards* (optional)  

*You can prepare these cards in advance. See below for two examples of what can be written on these cards.  

Location

  • Open field or space free of obstacles  

Things to Observe

  • Participants are obeying the stoplight signals and not just watching other participants to see what they are doing.

  • Participants are playing fairly with others and following rules of the game. If participants are caught running they should be asked to return to the start line.  

Safety Considerations

  • It is important for participants to keep their eyes up and looking at the stoplight so they know when to stop and when it is safe to go. This will help ensure they are aware of the other participants around them.

  • Ensure the activity area is free of any objects that may cause a participant to be injured.  

 
 

Guidelines

  • With the large crew have all participants line up on the start line (as indicated by tape, chalk, or pylons).  

  • You will be the stoplight and will call out the colour of the light (green or red) and hold up the corresponding paddle, cardboard, or gloves. Sometimes you should only show a colour and not call it out so that participants learn to always be looking up for signs that it is safe to cross a road.   

  • If the light is green, participants will move forward using small or slow steps or movements.  

  • If the light turns red, participants must stop and freeze.  

  • If there is someone available to lend a hand, they can act as a police officer. If a participant is caught by the police officer moving at a red light, then they must go back to the starting line.  

  • The police officer should be very dramatic and animated, become “distracted” a few times, and give the participants chances to sneak forward.  

  • The first participant to make it to the light wins, and then becomes the new stoplight.  

Instructional Considerations  

  • Ensure participants are using mini steps (heel-to-toe walking or penguin walking) or moving at a leisurely pace as their form of movement.  

  • Support the participants in their learning but ensure that you continue to give positive feedback. For example, if a participant is sent back to the start line you could say, “Great try Michael, and next time pay really close attention to the color of the light.”  

  • Have fun with the activity. Try to catch the participants off guard by having two red lights in a row.  

  • Optional: As a way of further encouraging proper dress, place “speed bumps” and “short cuts” throughout the playing area. These are small brightly coloured balls or painted rocks. In order to employ this activity, you will also need to have Speed Bump and Short Cut Cards which you will have made in advance of this session. The cards will have instructions on them such as “Speed bump: you failed to bring a flashlight on your walk at dusk, go back three giant steps.” It can also say something positive like “Short cut: you wore clothing with reflective tape at night, take five baby steps forward.” When using Speed Bumps and Short Cuts Cards to play Red Light, Green Light the police officer will have another role to perform. If a participant reaches a “speed bump” or “short cut,” the police officer will walk over to the participant and read from one of the special cards. The participant will then either move forward or backwards depending on what the card indicated.