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Description

Can you cross the road safely? Learn the Green Cross Code then put your knowledge to use in the real world.

Source https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/boss-the-green-cross-code/

Resources

30 minutes
A4 paper
Pens or pencils
Hi vis clothing

Change the level of challenge
Challenge someone to lead the whole group safely across a path in the park (but not an actual road).


Safety: All activities must be safely managed. Use a safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Do a risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Always get approval for the activity and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Instructions

Before you begin
- Stick the five ‘Crossing signs’ around your meeting place. You could make your own signs by writing on big pieces of paper if you want to.
- Plan a walk to an outside space with some footpaths that can be pretend roads. A local park with paths would be perfect.
- Identify a crossing on a local road – choose a road that’s quiet, or one with a low speed limit.


Learn the Green Cross Code
1. The person leading the activity should read the ‘Green Cross Code rhyme’ - find on https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/boss-the-green-cross-code/

2. Everyone should think of an action for each line – for example, for ‘look’, they could turn their heads and pretend to look down the road, or for ‘listen’ some people could put their hands to their ears while others make car noises.

3. Everyone should practise shouting the word at the start of each line and saying the rest of the line before (or while!) doing the action.


Play the crossings game
1. Call out a description of one of the five types of crossing stuck up around the meeting place. We’ve included some example descriptions below, feel free to use these or adapt them so everyone understands.

2. Everyone should move to the sign they think matches the description.

3. Make sure everyone understands the right answer before moving on to the next description. Keep this game short and sweet – you’ll need plenty of time to practice crossing a path and then a road.


Practice on a path
1. Get everyone into pairs to be ‘walking buddies’. Remind everyone of some basic safety rules including staying together, not running, walking sensibly, and always listening to the adults they’re with.

2. Everyone should travel safely together to the outside space chosen and find a path to pretend to be the road.

3. Some people should practise following the steps of the Green Cross Code to cross the path, while others check they’re doing it safely.

4. People should swap so everyone gets at least one turn at crossing the path.


Cross a real road
1. Everyone should travel safely to the quiet road the person leading the activity chose.

2. Adults should stay near the crossing to alert any traffic.

3. People should take it in turns to follow the Green Cross Code steps and safely cross the road.

4. Everyone should travel safely back to the meeting place.


Reflection
- This activity was a chance for everyone to understand how to cross roads safely. This is an important skill because it keeps people safe, and means they can help their families when they’re out and about. It’s also an important skill to learn and practise ready for when everyone’s ready to go out (and cross roads) on their own then they’re older. Can anyone remember any of the Green Cross Code rhyme to finish the session?

- To cross roads safely, people need to be independent. Why is it important to think and decide for yourself whether it’s safe to cross, not just copy someone else? How did it feel when you crossed the road safely? Do you usually think about when it’s safe, or do you rely on other people?

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THE CROSSING GAME
- This crossing is named after an animal because the pattern on the road looks like the animal’s black and white stripes. Cars stop here to let people cross the road. (Zebra crossing)

- This crossing sounds a bit like somewhere people may go on holiday. It’s a small raised area that’s a safe place for people to stand in between two sides of traffic. (Traffic island)

- This crossing rhymes with ‘muffin’, but its name is also a bird. This crossing is only for pedestrians, who can cross when their light is green. Detectors notice when there are no more pedestrians and turn the traffic lights green again. (Puffin crossing)

- This crossing can also be called an overpass or overcrossing. People walk up and over it using ramps or stairs. The crossing is made for pedestrians, and in some cases also cyclists, horse riders, and animal traffic. (Footbridge)

- This crossing also shares its name with a bird and is ruled by traffic lights. It’s for both pedestrians and cyclists, though, which means two types of people can use it. (Toucan crossing)

Tags

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Badge Links

• Adventure - Green Cross Code
• Adventure - Outdoor activity
• Road Safety - Green Cross Code
• Safety - Green Cross Code