- marker
- paper towel rolls
- red and green construction paper circles
- tape
- light (n)
MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.3.c: Recognize one’s own name and familiar common signs and labels (e.g., STOP).
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation: Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Attends to language during conversations, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
EEC Infant and Toddler Guidelines:
PW50: The older toddler engages in a variety of physical activities.
Play Together: “Red Light! Green Light!”
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
STEM Key Concepts: There are many different colors
ELA Focus Skills: Recognize Environmental Print, Speaking and Listening,Vocabulary
Educator Prep: Make a simple red-and-green Stop/Go sign. Cut out a red circle and a green circle. Write “STOP” on the red circle and “GO” on the green circle. Tape each circle to a paper towel roll. Tape a starting line across the floor. Move furniture to the side of the room so children have an area to walk.
Review red things that children learned about today. Tell children you are going to teach them a game called “Red Light, Green Light.” Ask,
Do you know what a red traffic light means? A green traffic light? Be sure children understand red means "stop" and green means "go" before you continue.
- Guide children through the rules of the game. Explain that you are going to be the traffic police officer and the children will be the cars.
- Say, When I say “green light” and hold up the green sign, you drive (walk) slowly toward me. But when I say “red light” and hold up this red sign, you stop and stand still. If you keep moving, or if you drive too fast, I will catch you and you will have to start all over again. Try to be the first person to tag the police officer and you will get to be the next traffic cop.
Have children stand behind the starting line on the floor in a line.
- Stand at a distance across the room. Say, green light as you hold up the green GO sign so children can see it. Suddenly say, red light as you hold up the red STOP sign. If anyone is still moving, tell him or her to return to the starting line.
- Keep playing, until someone tags you. Emphasize how important it is that children tag very gently. Stress that this keeps everyone safe. Have the tagger become the next traffic cop. Continue as long as interest lasts.
Take It Further: Let children make their own STOP/GO signs to play the game at home. Help them cut the circles and write STOP and GO on them.