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Description

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/beware-the-bubble/
In a busy and crowded train station, you can easily be distracted by other people or your mobile phone. At level crossings, you can also be distracted by your music or thoughts as you drift into your own little world – your own bubble. This can be dangerous as you’re not as aware of the risks around you when you’re lost in thought, so beware the bubble and stay safe on the railway.

Resources

Scrap paper
Pens or pencils
Something to mark lines (for example, chalk, masking tape, or rope)
Device to play music

Instructions

Before you begin

- This activity is for part of the first requirement of the Cubs Personal Safety Activity Badge. Everyone will need to learn about the dangers of playing on or near another of the things listed to meet the requirement. You could use Dangerous sculptures to do this.
- The Rail Industry has five key messages to keep people safe around railways. This activity focuses on ‘Beware the bubble’ and talks about how important it is to be aware of your surroundings.
- You’ll need to prepare some quick, fun activities to act as distractions for the people walking the route. Think about things like singing songs, doing star jumps, pulling silly faces, practising skills like tying knots, or even doing a quick quiz. It’s important not to tell anyone they’re distraction activities, though!
- Prepare a few songs to play during the activity.
- Mark a start line at one end of the meeting place – this is the entrance to the train station. Mark a finish line at the other end – this is the platform.
- Mark a snaking route between the train station and platforms. Put any equipment you need for the activities along the route, and set up the music player.

The first journey

1. The person leading the activity should read the key message from the box above. They should explain that this safety message comes from The Rail Industry. Everyone should chat about why it’s important to beware the bubble near the railway.

2. Everyone should split into groups of three or four.

3. The first group should stand at the entrance to the train station. They should spread out so there’s a gap between everyone. Everyone else should get stuck in to the activities dotted around, and the person leading the activity should play the music.
Tip: Extra leaders should support the people getting stuck into the activities.

4. The first group should travel the route from the entrance to the platform with ‘pigeon steps’ – small steps where their heel touches their toe each step.
Tip: Encourage the groups to be really careful and precise with their steps. Don’t mention the other people doing the activities.

5. Once the first group have reached the train platform, subtly ask them to note down the things they saw along the route with as much detail as possible. They can do this as a group, and the notes don’t need to be perfect – everyone can chat while one person makes a quick list or drawing.
Tip: Don’t let anyone else know that the group are making a list of what happened along the route, or it’ll give the game away for their turn.

6. Repeat steps three to five until all of the groups have had a turn at carefully walking the group. Let people know when to swap activities so it stays fun.

The second journey

1. Everyone should start a new activity. The first group should walk the route again. They should keep doing their pigeon steps, but this time they should pay attention to what’s going on around them too. Can they take in what’s happening and avoid getting caught up in their own bubble?

2. When the first group reach the platform, they should make another list of what they saw and noticed. There’s no need to be subtle this time, as everyone knows how the game works.

3. Once all of the groups have had a turn at the second walk, everyone should gather together.

4. Everyone should compare their notes from the walks and reflect.

Tags

• railway safety

Badge Links

• Personal Safety - Dangers