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Physical Education

Traffic Lights

Overview

Children move around the space and respond to colour commands.

Learning Objective
Children improve listening and reaction time through a movement game.

Resources needed

  • Open space
  • Optional: coloured cards (red, yellow, green)

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Explain: green = run, yellow = walk, red = stop.
  2. 2 Children move around the space.
  3. 3 Call out colours one at a time.
  4. 4 Children respond with the correct movement.
  5. 5 Speed up the changes to increase challenge.
  6. 6 Add a fourth command: blue = jump on the spot.
  7. 7 Cool down: red for 10 seconds, then sit.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Use actions instead of colours (clap = stop, shout = run).
  • Let children call the colours.
  • Add freeze pose at red instead of just stopping.
More information

Show colour cards alongside the word if available. Repeat the command clearly. Accept children responding before the word is finished.

Reduce to two commands only (stop and go) for children who need simpler instructions.

Do children stop immediately on 'red'? Can they change speed quickly between yellow and green?

No materials needed. Works in any open space. Coloured cards are optional extras.

Children often forget yellow means walk (not stop). Practise yellow separately at the start.

Excellent warm-up for any PE session. Builds listening and self-regulation alongside fitness.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 10 minutes no prep Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Listening Movement Reaction Time