Teaching students about traffic lights can be both fun and beneficial. Whether through a transportation unit, traffic light crafts, or behavior management, these activities will provide a ton of fun! Students will take an interest in learning about traffic lights as they begin to understand how they are used to manage the flow of traffic and help keep order and safety on our roads. Check out this list of 23 traffic light activities for your students!
1. Torn Paper Traffic Light Craft
This is a perfect craft to use during Black History Month. You can teach students about Garrett Morgan and his invention of the traffic light. Finish the lesson off with this craft of a solid black construction paper background, complete with glued-on scraps of red, yellow, and green construction paper circles to represent the lights.
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2. Color Match Traffic Light
Let little ones squeeze in some fine motor practice while working to match their colors with this activity. Give them a pre-made construction paper or felt traffic light. Let them match small colored circles to the traffic light colors.
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3. Play Red Light, Green Light
Traffic lights games like “Red Light, Green Light” are fun for young ones. One person says green light and they run until that person says red light. Then, everyone freezes where they are. You could also do other movements, like skipping or crawling.
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4. Red Light, Green Light Game Twist
Another traffic light game is the indoor version of “Red Light, Green Light”. Use scooters or jump ropes to make it more challenging. Add in more movements; change it up often. You could also have students partner up to do movements. The first one to make it to the caller wins!
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5. Traffic Light Suncatcher
This cute craft is made with only a sheet of contact paper, some colored tissue paper, and craft glue. Form the colored sections of the traffic light, and glue them in a circular shape. Outline the rest of the traffic light with gray tissue paper to serve as the base of the light. Let it dry and hang it up to create a beautiful suncatcher.
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6. Cotton Pad Traffic Light
For this activity, grab some clean cotton pads, food coloring, and droppers. Stack the cotton pads to form the three lights on a piece of cardboard. Let students use the droppers to color the cotton pads. The cotton pads will begin to change to red, yellow, and green as the droplets plop down on them- creating a creative traffic light.
Learn More: Happy Toddler Playtime
7. Sing the Song
Sung to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”, students will have fun singing this song as they learn about the colors of the traffic light. Let them add in some small musical instruments to make it even more fun to make music!
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8. Visual Behavior Resource
Using a colored traffic light as a behavior management tool can be an extremely helpful tool to control volume within your classroom. Use a paper template or a full-size traffic light to teach students to notice red means silent. Yellow means whisper voices. Green gives the all-clear for quiet voices.
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9. Nutrition Activity
This handy graphic organizer is a great visual reminder for students to make an educated comparison of food choices. Students should be taught that some foods are red and to stop and think before eating too much. Other foods are yellow and should be eaten in moderation; while other foods are green for a big go! Students can practice making good choices using this handout.
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10. Traffic Light Sensory Soup
Sensory play is always a great way to play! Create a sensory water play bin for students. Include foam cut out of red, yellow, and green to represent the colors on a traffic light. Place scoops and spoons for added playtime fun in this water sensory bin.
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11. Traffic Light Ball Toss
This is an activity students will love! Create a three-dimensional bean bag or ball toss. Use a cardboard box as a base. Cut out holes for the traffic light colors. Have students use the same color bean bag or ball to toss through each colored hole.
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12. Healthy Traffic Light Snack
This snack is a great classroom activity! Check for peanut allergies and if all is clear, use peanut butter on graham cracker slivers. Let students make a comparison of food choices by offering them options for completing their snacks. Be sure to include healthy foods in red, yellow, and green!
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13. Traffic Light Smoothies
These traffic light-inspired smoothies can help encourage healthy choices for little ones. Easy to make with kiwi, mango, and strawberries, all you need is a blender, ice, fruit, and cups. Let students help scoop the fruit into the blender and push the button to help blend it down. Lastly, pour each fruit into a cup in layers.
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14. Traffic Light Treat
Not as healthy, but just as fun, this traffic light treat is fun to make and fun to eat! Spread out a sheet of parchment paper and build this yummy snack out of a graham cracker and peanut butter sandwich. Put a craft stick in the center to provide a way to hold it. Then, top with some melted chocolate and red, green, and yellow candies.
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15. Handprint Traffic Light Craft
Use black construction paper as the background as you build this handprint traffic light. Use red, yellow, and green paint to create a handprint of each color. Arrange the handprints in order and brush glue on the back to secure them to the black paper. You will have a cute traffic light visual.
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16. Recycled Egg Carton Craft
Recycle an egg carton and create a traffic light out of it. Paint the colors of the traffic light on and use a craft stick and some putty or play-doh to hold up your new traffic light. This is a great way to teach about the traffic light, while also teaching about recycling.
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17. Paper Plate Traffic Lights
Paint paper plates black cut them in half, and attach a piece of black construction paper between them. You will have formed a traffic light craft! All you have left to do is add colored circles for the lights and a string to hang them up!
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18. Traffic Light Beginning Sounds
This traffic light activity was created to help students with beginning sounds. By matching the pictures to the letter of their beginning sound, students are working on early literacy skills with this traffic light activity.
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19. Tiny Traffic Signs
For all the little drivers of monster trucks, Hot Wheels, and other small vehicles, you may have a lot of fun with a transportation unit. Use clothespins to hold up the signs and help them learn how to obey traffic signs and traffic lights.
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20. Traffic Light Emotions
Teaching students to express emotions and rate them using a traffic light system can help them process and advocate for themselves. If they are angry, they may identify with red and need some space or a calm-down spot. If they are neutral, they may pick yellow and be just fine. If they feel great, they may choose green and be happy!
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21. Craft to Teach Meaning
Here is an easy and simple craft to help students learn what the colors of the traffic light represent. Simply build this with construction paper and add the words to match the colors and their meaning. You can write it in for them if they are younger and need help.
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22. Role Playing
Help students make handheld road and traffic signs. Using the red, yellow, and green from the traffic light will help students understand what each color means. Let students drive their cars around while obeying the traffic lights and signs other students are holding up.
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23. Jumbo Traffic Light
Use a large sheet of black construction paper or poster board to form the background. Then, use paper plates to serve as the lights. Have students finger-paint or cover with colored construction paper or tissue paper to represent the colors of the lights.
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