Travel Safety Skills

Overview

Unit: Safe and Healthy Choices
Lesson: 3 of 5
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 10 students
Age Group: Year 2 (6-7 years old)
Subject: PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)
National Curriculum References:

• PSHE Education Programme of Study (DfE 2020):
  • Health and wellbeing
    • Recognise what keeps them healthy and safe
    • Understand how to manage risks in everyday situations
• DfE Relationship and Health Education statutory guidance (2020):
  • Learn about personal safety, including how to cross roads safely
• Physical Development and Understanding the World links in EYFS/KS1:
  • Awareness of pedestrian safety

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Identify the key rules for crossing the road safely, including the Green Cross Code.
• Understand the importance of always wearing a seatbelt when travelling in a vehicle.
• Recognise the importance of staying safe when walking or using a wheelchair.
• Demonstrate safe crossing techniques through an interactive traffic light game.

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Resources

• Large coloured traffic light cards (red, amber, green)
• Soft toy traffic lights or pedestrian crossing props
• Visual prompts/posters of the Green Cross Code
• Seatbelt demonstration buckle or real seatbelt clip from a child's car seat
• Space to set up a mock pedestrian crossing
• Wheelchair accessibility discussion prompt cards (simple images)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Engagement (5 minutes)

• Welcome the class and remind them of previous lessons about staying safe and healthy.
• Briefly introduce today's focus: Travel Safety – How we get around safely.
• Show the Green Cross Code poster and explain its three main steps in simple language:
  1. Stop at the kerb
  2. Look and listen
  3. Wait for the green man before crossing
• Quickly introduce the importance of seatbelts and ask if children know why we wear them.

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2. Guided Discussion (7 minutes)

• Discuss with children various ways they travel (walking, car, wheelchair, scooter, bus).
• Prompt questions:
  • What do you do before you cross the road?
  • Why should we wear seatbelts in the car?
  • How can someone who uses a wheelchair cross safely?
• Use simple scenario cards to encourage understanding of different needs (e.g., a child in a wheelchair waiting to cross).
• Emphasise respect and awareness of others’ safety needs.

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3. Interactive Activity: Traffic Light Game (12 minutes)

• Set up a mock road and crossing area in the classroom or outdoor space.
• Use large traffic light cards and a “pedestrian crossing” set-up.
• Play the game:
  • Teacher holds up a traffic light card that signals when it is safe/not safe to cross.
  • Children take turns pretending to cross the road safely, following the traffic light signals and practising the Green Cross Code steps out loud or in their heads.
• Include special instructions for wheelchair users to ensure accessible safe crossing awareness.
• Provide praise and gentle correction to reinforce learning.

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4. Seatbelt Demonstration and Importance (4 minutes)

• Show a real or demonstration seatbelt clip from a child car seat.
• Explain why a seatbelt keeps us safe (stopping us from getting hurt in an accident).
• Quick Q&A: Ask children to share when they last wore a seatbelt and why.
• Emphasise the rule that everyone must always wear a seatbelt in a car, every time.

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5. Plenary & Assessment (2 minutes)

• Recap main points: Green Cross Code, wearing seatbelts, and being mindful when travelling.
• Ask each pupil one quick question to check understanding, e.g., “What do you do when the traffic lights are red?” or “Why do we wear seatbelts?”
• Praise their effort and remind them that staying safe when travelling helps keep themselves and others healthy and happy.

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Differentiation & SEND Considerations

• Provide visual and verbal instructions to support all learners.
• Use physical space and props to engage kinaesthetic learners and those with additional needs.
• Scaffold questioning with simple sentence starters, e.g., “I look...”, “I wait...”
• Adapt traffic light game rules for pupils with mobility aids ensuring inclusivity.

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Links to Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation during the traffic light game and discussion.
• Use pupil responses during plenary to gauge understanding of key safety rules.
• Record any key points for follow-up in future lessons or for communication with parents.

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Extension Activity (Optional)

• Ask children to draw a picture of themselves crossing the road safely or wearing a seatbelt and bring it to the next lesson to share with the group.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Emphasise positive reinforcement to build children’s confidence in travelling safely.
• Maintain a calm, structured atmosphere during physical activities to manage risks.
• This lesson builds foundations for independence and responsibility, crucial at this stage of PSHE education.

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This creative approach ensures that Year 2 learners internalise travel safety messages in an interactive, inclusive, and concrete way, aligned with National Curriculum statutory guidance and best PSHE practices.