Activity 14: I Spy
Purpose
To introduce participants to a pre-determined travel route to try and find out what they know and understand about being a pedestrian.
To teach participants to be aware of their surroundings
Materials
Route card
Instructional Considerations
You should engage in discussion while walking with the large crew or small crew. Ask the participants how, when and where they walk, and who they walk with. Now is a good time to reinforce the travel buddies idea where individuals should travel in pairs and always stay together.
Be sure to balance discussion of safety concerns with that of positive aspects of their walking environment.
Things to Observe
Participants are able to identify safe and unsafe practices related to road and pedestrian safety.
Participants are able to identify positive attributes of their environment.
Participants are engaged in the activity and not getting distracted.
Safety Considerations
Participants will move about in small crews (if there are others helping to deliver the program) or in a large crew and be in crew formation as they do the I Spy walk.
Guidelines
Prior to leaving the community centre or school, go over the guidelines for proper and safe behaviour when walking in small and large crews.
Participants must be informed of their responsibility to act in a safe way and to also respect their environment. Tell them that being aware of our surroundings as pedestrians can help us stay safe as we go.
In this activity participants will be asked to point out various aspects of the environment by playing the game I Spy. As they explore their community (on a pre-determined route) ask them to identify:
Things that they think could be unsafe
Positive features of their community
Safe pedestrian practices
An unsafe driver and/or inattentive driver
A vehicle that is idling unnecessarily
Unfamiliar road signs
Encourage participants to begin their observations with the phrase
“I spy with my pedestrian eye ...”If participants seem to miss something of great importance, guide them into discovering that safety concern. Ask leading questions, eg. “What about this pathway over here?”
Debrief
At the end of the activity, debrief with the participants. Ask them to respond to these questions:
Why is it important to communicate effectively with our peers?
What are some examples of communicating in a positive way with our peers?
What are some examples of possible safety concerns in our community when we walk?
What are some of the good things about walking in our community?
Thinking about some of the routes you use daily, where are some places you can get to safely? (Hint: Grocery store, school, library, community centre, soccer field, friend’s house, etc.).