My Street: Fluorescent colours and collage.

Aims:

To understand that fluorescent or bright colours help you to be seen in daytime, particularly in bad weather. To encourage children to be creative with colour and use collage techniques. To increase their familiarity with fluorescent colours and help them to understand that fluorescent clothing can be in several different colours. To increase their awareness and understanding of their school’s neighbourhood and the importance of being visible to traffic.

Key message: Fluorescent and bright colours make you more visible to traffic in daytime especially when light conditions are poor. Reflective materials do not usually help you to be seen in daylight. Fluorescent and bright for daytime and near dusk.

Activity:

This activity is for individuals but may be adapted for teams or for a whole-class project. You may choose to do the main task and the extension task at the same time.

You will need: A3 white paper, pencils, scissors, glue, black and white poster or watercolour paint, scraps of fluorescent fabric or fluorescent paper in several different colours, grey or white reflective tape or reflective material scraps (fluorescent/reflective resource packs available from us).

Draw a picture of the front of your school and the road and pavement. Draw in at least ten children (approx 8cm high) wearing their dark school coats. With a pencil draw in some cars, trees, road markings and so on. (This is your ‘nice weather’ scene.)

Mix black and white paint to make grey paint. Add some water to the paint. Paint over the scene with this ‘wash’ to make the street look foggy. Leave to dry. Meanwhile, cut out fluorescent pieces of material to make bag, scarf or waistcoat shapes for nearly all the children in the picture. Use lots of different colours. Add some reflective shapes and strips. Stick the cut out shapes onto the children in your picture. Display your artwork.

Talk About:

What are your favourite colours in the picture? Which children do you think the car drivers will be able to see best? Do the fluorescent (bright) colours show up best or the reflective materials in daytime bad weather? What should you wear or carry when it’s foggy or raining in the day? Emphasise: Bright or fluorescent colours make it easier for drivers to see you in daylight (but you should always take care near traffic whatever we are wearing).

Copyright Safe Kids Walking Ltd 2005. May be reproduced for non-commercial educational use with copyright credit shown.