Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

How do you stay safe at a level crossing? Find out, then get on board the train game to test your knowledge.

Courtesy of The Scout Association
https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/All-aboard-the-train-game

Resources

(none)

Instructions

Train for the game
1. Everyone should talk about trains in their local area. Are there train stations? What about railway crossings? Level crossings often have lights, warning signs, and barriers that warn people when a train’s about to come past.
[If there aren’t any level crossings in your area, you might want to show a video of one in action. You could use any device with access to the internet.]

2. The person leading the activity should remind everyone that they should always stop and wait at a level crossing. They should never cross when the barriers are down; even if they’re in a hurry, they should stop and wait until all the trains have gone through and the barriers have risen up. Head over to Network Rail’s website to find out more on level crossings for pedestrians.
[Once everyone knows how to safely use a levels crossing, it is a great chance to help out other people if you community. If you ever see someone looking confused or worried at a level crossing you could offer to help them and show them how to be safe.]

3. The person leading the activity should ask if anyone can remember how to cross a road safely. Crossing a level crossing is similar – people should stop, look, and listen.
[Trains are quiet and you can't always hear them coming. Today’s trains can almost silently reach speeds over 100mph and run day and night.]

4. Everyone should call out ‘stop’ and hold a hand out in front of them like they’re telling someone to stop. They should look left and right, then left and right again, and cup their hand to their ear to listen for trains.

Play the game
1. Everyone should move around the space. People can choose how they move – perhaps they could pretend to cycle or drive.

2. When the person leading the game calls out ‘red light’ or ‘amber light’, everyone should stop. When they call out ‘green light’, everyone should keep moving.
[Some crossings have amber and red warning lights. We must stop as soon as the lights come on, whether they are amber or red and not cross until the lights stop flashing – there may be more than one train. Some crossings have red and green lights. We must only cross when the green lights are showing.]

3. When the person leading the game calls out ‘a train is coming with three carriages’, three people should make a train by holding onto each other’s waists in a line.
[You may need to call out who should be the train if people aren’t able to quickly and fairly decide for themselves. Some trains have big, loud engines and some run on electricity and are almost silent. Choose which type of train you're going to be so you can make the right noises.]

4. At the same time, two pairs should make barriers by putting their palms against one another. They should stand a little way apart, with enough space for the train to pass between their closed barriers. They could beep, to let everyone know a train is coming.

5. The train should pass between the barriers. The barriers should stay closed to protect cars and people from the train. Once the train is through, the barriers should stop beeping and open by lifting their arms (so their palms no longer touch).

6. At the same time, anyone who isn’t part of the train or barriers should stand behind the barrier until the train’s gone through. Once the train’s gone through, they should stop, look, and listen, then move through the crossing.

7. Everyone should continue moving around the space.

8. The person leading the game should continue to call out the different coloured lights, or tell everyone a train is coming with a different number of carriages.

9. Each time a train comes, everyone should take a different role from the time before. If someone’s a train, for example, they can’t be a train next time – they should be part of the barrier or a road user instead.

Reflection
This activity helped everyone learn how to be responsible for their own safety at a level crossing with a high energy game that can be played anywhere. The person leading the reflection should remind everyone that they should stop, look, and listen. What advice would people give to someone else who was nervous about level crossings? As long as people stop at the barrier, look for the light, and listen for the alarm, there’ll be safe. Can anyone remember when you should stop and wait? As soon as the lights or alarm start, or as soon as the barrier starts to move – whichever is first. Never try and cross once the warning has begun, even if you’re late or in a hurry. Well done to everyone who listened carefully and got stuck into learning how to be safe and responsible.

Tags

(none)

Badge Links

• Safety - Crossings