The purpose of this resource is to support the creation of a program that encourages students in Grades 1 through 8 to walk more, by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to be able to do so safely and confidently.
Description
Comprehensive skills-based education session(s) designed to teach children about the benefits of walking, how to identify safety risks, and how to use common street features such as traffic signs, signals, and crossings. Sessions are usually led by qualified instructors, working with a group of children to take them through several hours of teaching and coaching.
Initial introductory learning can take place in the classroom, but in order to fully develop skills and confidence, training should include an experiential component where students practice applying what they have learned, with supervision, out on local streets. A program might also include follow-on classroom learning to reinforce what students have learned over time, and parent communication to reinforce the learning at home and help foster positive parental attitudes toward independent mobility for children.
If you are also running a Cycling Skills Training program, be sure to consider how it could be delivered in coordination with your Pedestrian Skills Training to improve the efficiency of program delivery.
What you will need
- Trained instructors
- Curriculum (see Resources)
- Suitable learning space, such as a gymnasium, school yard, community centre, local park, or local streets.
Who can help
Teachers, community organizations, school transportation staff, parents, and volunteers.
Walking and Wheeling Skills Resource Hub
The Walking and Wheeling Skills Resource Hub by Green Communities Canada (download at right/below) contains many useful resources, including:
- List of existing training programs and providers;
- Lessons learned from existing programs;
- Tools to help scope out a program model and budget;
- Information on potential funding sources; and
- Vetted, transferable curricula to use in your community.
External Resources
The following resources are external to our website and can also be used to help students develop pedestrian, cycling, and road safety skills through classroom lessons and skills-based learning:
- Making Tracks Teaching Manual & Leadership Training by the Ecology Action Centre
- Road Safety Education Resources by the Ottawa Safety Council
- Sidewalk Smarts Program by Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region
Key words
Pedestrian skills, walking skills, walk, walking, safety, students, skills training, road rules, crossing, confidence, independence.