Preschool Pedestrian Safety

Lesson 1: Streets Are for Cars

Concept to be taught: Streets are dangerous for small children.

Classroom Activities

1. What uses the streets? (Cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, school buses.)
2. What does the front of a car look like? (Has headlights, windshield, and turn signals.)
3. What does the back of a car look like? (Has red taillights and turn signals.)
4. How can you tell if a car is coming towards you or going away?
   • A car coming towards you looks bigger and has headlights.
   • A car leaving looks smaller and has taillights.
5. Traffic makes different sounds. Have children identify sounds they’ve heard (horns, trucks, buses, motorcycles, car engines, screeching tires, sirens).
6. How do cars help us? (Take us places.)
7. Can cars hurt us? (Yes, if we’re in their way.)

Outdoor Activities

1. Show the children the items mentioned above.
2. Have the children listen for and identify different traffic sounds.
3. Have the children identify an approaching car, a departing car, and a parked car.

Follow-Up Activities

1. Use “Streets Are for Cars” coloring sheets.
2. Have children draw pictures of things that belong on the street.

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Lesson 2: Sidewalks Are for Walkers

Concept to be taught: Sidewalks are safe for people.

Classroom Activities

1. Who or what belongs on the sidewalk? (People, pets, tricycles, bikes.)
2. Where does the sidewalk end? (At the curb or the edge of the street.)
3. What is an alley? (A small street behind houses and buildings—since it’s a street, it’s dangerous.)
4. What is a driveway? (A small street next to a house where cars back up.)
   • Drivers backing up have difficulty seeing children.
   • Children must watch for moving cars in driveways.
5. Are sidewalks a safe place to play? (Yes, but not with balls or toys that could go into the street.)
6. If something goes into the street, what should you do? (Ask an older person for help.)
7. Is the yard a safe place to play? (Yes, safer than sidewalks.)

Outdoor Activities

1. Take a walk and point out the items discussed above.

Follow-Up Activities

1. Use “Sidewalks Are for Walkers” coloring sheets.
2. Have children draw pictures of things that belong on the sidewalk.

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Lesson 3: Stop at the Curb

Concept to be taught: Always stop at the curb, which separates a safe area from a dangerous area.

Classroom Activities

1. What is a curb? (The step next to the street.)
2. What does the curb do? (Tells drivers the street ends and walkers the street begins.)
3. Is the curb a safe place to play? (No, a car might ride over it.)
4. What uses the streets? (Cars, etc.)
5. Is it safe to be in the street? (Not without an adult.)
6. Who uses a sidewalk? (People, pets, tricycles, etc.)
7. Are sidewalks safe? (Yes, except for driveways and alleys.)
8. Does the sidewalk stop for the street? (Yes, at the curb.)
9. What does a stop sign look like? (Show or draw a stop sign.)
10. What should you do at a curb? (Imagine a stop sign and stop.)
11. What does a curb tell us? (The sidewalk ends, and the street begins.)
12. If you’re running, should you still stop at the curb? (Yes, especially then.)

Outdoor Activities

1. Take a walk and emphasize curbs at midblock and corners.

Follow-Up Activities

1. Use “Stop at the Curb” coloring sheets.
2. Have children draw pictures of the concepts in this lesson.

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Lesson 4: Cars Are Bigger Than Me

Concept to be taught: Cars create visibility problems.

Classroom Activities

1. Are cars bigger than children? (Compare a child’s height to a tall object like a file cabinet.)
2. Can cars hide us? (Demonstrate by standing behind a file cabinet.)
3. Does a parked car block a child’s view? (Yes, but not an adult’s.)
4. Why is it dangerous to be in the street near a parked car? (Drivers may not see you.)

Outdoor Activities (Using a parked car in a safe area)

1. Show children different car parts (headlights, signal lights, windshield, taillights, backup lights).
2. Demonstrate how a parked car hides a child but not an adult.
3. Teach about blind spots by having children position themselves where the driver can’t see them.

Follow-Up Activities

1. Use “Cars Are Bigger Than Me” coloring sheets.
2. Have children draw pictures showing the height difference between themselves and a car.

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Lesson 5: Always Cross with Someone Older

Concept to be taught: Always enter the street with an older person.

Classroom Activities

1. Who is someone older? (Parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers, babysitters.)
2. Are older people bigger than you? (Yes. Have children compare their height.)
3. Are cars bigger than older people? (No.)
4. Do cars hide older people? (No, unlike small children.)
5. Why do older people know more about crossing streets? (They have experience and understand how cars work.)