Play a transportation safety game based on the classic children's game Red Light Green Light. Before the activity, cut an octagon from the center of a sheet of sturdy red 8-by-10-inch cardstock. In addition, cut a circle from the center of a sheet of sturdy green 8-by-10-inch cardstock. Tape a wooden paint stirring stick (available for free or a minimal charge at most paint stores) to the back of each shape. Use white paint to write "Stop" on the red shape and "Go" on the green shape in block letters. Tell your preschoolers that you will practice what to do when crossing the street, but first make it clear that the first rule of crossing the street is to hold the hand of an adult. Stand in front of your class, holding the red sign. Ask the children to look both ways. When all the children look both ways, hold the green sign and ask the children to walk toward you. Practice obeying at the signs and looking both ways each day of your transportation theme.
Teach children about bus safety by arranging your classroom chairs in rows of two, with one chair in the front. Tell your class that the chairs are a pretend bus and that you will be the driver. Ask the children to line up at the front of the bus. Take your seat. Ask the children to walk single file to a seat and sit quietly. When everyone is seated, pretend to start the bus and drive. Remind children to be quiet so the driver can hear sirens and other traffic noises. Pretend to stop at a destination. Tell the children that when they walk out of the bus door, they must take five giant steps directly away from the bus, then go to an area you designate (such as a rug) and sit down. Ask the children to stand and file off the bus, with the front row of children leading, then each subsequent row getting off after. Review the bus safety rules with the children on the rug, then repeat the activity with children sitting in different seats.
Put a transportation safety twist on a game of Simon Says. Change the words, "Simon Says" to "Buckle-Up." Give transportation-themed commands as you lead the game. For example, say "Buckle-up and drive a bright red sports car," or "Buckle-up to fly around the room in a jet airplane." When you give a transportation command without saying "Buckle-Up," the children must not act out the command. If a child acts out a command without first hearing "Buckle-Up," he is out until the next round.
Lead teams of preschoolers in a relay activity to reinforce the importance of wearing safety gear when biking. Collect two bike helmets, two pair of knee pads and two child-sized vests with reflector tape. Place one helmet, one pair of knee pads and one vest in a pile at the end of a large, open area. Place the other set of gear in another pile, about 1 foot from the first pile. Divide the preschoolers into two teams. Line each team up behind a pile of equipment. Yell, "Bike Ride." The first child in line on both teams must put on all of the equipment (team members may help her into the items) then run to the opposite end of the room and back to her team. Each player will then take off the safety items and give them to the next player on the team. The first team to complete the relay is the winner.