The Drama Shorts add flesh to the character bones of the various protagonists and allow us a glimpse of the impact an accident like this can have. It is these ‘shorts’ that provide the basis for many of the lessons as they present themes that can be discussed and explored further by your pupils.

The Time-Out resource has been designed to offer teachers a flexible way of teaching within the Citizenship or PSHE Programmes of Study. The drama and ‘shorts’ can be used on their own providing a vivid road safety message. However, used in conjunction with the lessons provided, the issues and messages can be brought to life through vibrant, pupil led discussion. There are three main ways in which the resource can be used:

1. As a one off, road safety input, incorporating the drama, lesson 1 – ‘Time to Think’ and the drama shorts. This approach allows for teachers to fit a road safety theme into their plans within existing schemes of work.
   
2. As a sequence of lessons using the drama shorts as a starter to discussion. There are a wide variety of road safety issues that can be discussed as well as offshoot topics such as bullying, disability and peer pressure. Using a sequence of lessons will allow teachers to build the Time-Out resource into their schemes of work and can be tailored and adapted to fit a term or half term’s work for PSHE or Citizenship.
   
3. As an Enquiry project, allowing pupils to research and develop their own road safety agendas. Teachers can use the project planner as a framework to build an enquiry with their pupils and it can be adapted by individual teachers to fit into their schemes of work.

There is a strong element of discussion and debate built into all the lessons, reflecting the need to develop skills of communication, participation and responsible action required for progression in Citizenship. Although there is little provision for written work, there is scope for display and wider presentations that are detailed within the plans.

Each plan is split into two parts, the first part detailing the curriculum links, aims, objectives and keys to success. The second part forms the main body of the plan and contains starter activities, discussion points, key questions, tasks, differentiation options, extensions and a plenary. Each lesson uses a different ‘drama short’ as a starter to promote debate followed by an introductory discussion point. These introductory discussion points have been kept – deliberately - light hearted to resonate with pupils and hopefully maximise involvement. From these initial discussions, more complicated and relevant issues can be debated. As asserted before, the plans are intended for you to adapt to your own circumstances. You may wish to cut chunks out or discuss topics that are specific to your own school. This is fine. The Road Safety Notes section can provide you with more information about the specific issues we would like to explore further through the drama and associated lessons.