Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Online Safety Traffic Light Game: Free Printable Game for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Online Safety Traffic Light Game is a free printable PSHE game for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children cut out cards showing online situations and sort them into red, amber and green. It takes about 15 minutes, needs no screen, and works for 2 to 6 players. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help and stretch ideas, and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, use page 1 for the game and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children cut out the cards and read each online situation in turn. Then they decide whether it is safe, needs care, or should stop, and sort it into green, amber or red. The situations cover everyday moments such as chatting, messages, links, pop ups, photos, apps and telling an adult. Players talk about each choice and give a reason before they place a card.
- A stranger asks for your address
- Chatting with a friend you know in real life
- A pop-up says you have won a prize
- Telling a trusted adult about something odd
- Sharing your password with a friend
- Using a game with a parent nearby
- Clicking a link from someone you do not know
- Posting a photo of your school uniform
- Asking before downloading an app
- A message makes you feel upset
Why use traffic lights for online safety?
Most children already know what traffic lights mean. Red means stop, amber means take care and green means go. Using that idea for online choices gives children a simple way to sort situations quickly. It also shows that not every choice is a clear yes or no. Some need a pause, a question or a word with an adult first.
Children in Year 5 are often using games, messages and apps more independently. Talking through realistic situations before they happen helps them build habits they can use later. The most useful habit is knowing that they can always tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong, and that they will not be in trouble for doing so.
Skills and curriculum link
- Safe choices
- Judging risk
- Discussion
- Giving reasons
- Knowing who to tell
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Computing | Online safety | Year 5 |
What children will be able to do
- I can sort online actions into safe, careful or stop.
- I can explain why an action is risky.
- I can say who to tell if something feels wrong.
Ideas for the grown up
- Reasons matter mostA child who picks a colour and explains it well is learning more than a child who simply guesses right. Always ask why before you check page 2.
- Private informationPrivate information is anything that could help someone identify a child or find them. Ask children what kinds of details they think are private.
- Feelings are a clueIf something online makes a child feel worried, confused or upset, that is a good reason to stop and talk to someone they trust.
- Different views are finePlayers may disagree about a colour. Let them argue their case, then use the notes and answers on page 2 to settle it together.
Key words
- RedIn this game, red means stop. The action is not safe and you should tell a trusted adult.
- AmberIn this game, amber means take care. Stop and think, or check with an adult first.
- GreenIn this game, green means the action is safe to go ahead with.
- Trusted adultA grown up you know well and feel safe talking to, such as a parent, carer or teacher.
- Personal informationDetails that tell people who you are or how to find you.
- Pop upA box or window that appears on a screen without you asking for it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the players. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Cut out the cards. Read the rules aloud together so everyone plays the same game.
- Take turns to read a card. The player decides on red, amber or green and says why.
- Talk about each choice. Check against the notes and answers on page 2 once everyone has given their view.
- Play again another day. Two quick rounds of about 15 minutes each work better than one long game.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with only the red and green cards. These are the clearest choices, so children can build confidence first. Read each card aloud and ask, "Would this feel safe, or would you want to stop?" Add the amber cards once the first sort feels easy.
To stretch confident children
Ask each player to write their own card for each colour. They should think of a new online situation, then swap cards with another player. Each player sorts the new cards and explains the reasons for every choice.
Make it a game
Vote with coloured paper. Give each player a red, an amber and a green piece. Read a card aloud, count down from three, and everyone holds up a colour at once. Then each player explains their choice.
Talk about it
- Which colour would this action be, and why?
- What would you do if someone you did not know messaged you?
- Who could you talk to if something online worried you?
- How can you tell when something online does not feel right?
- Why might an amber card need an adult to help you decide?
- What could you say to a friend who wanted you to do something that felt risky?
Take it off the page
Traffic light posters
Draw a large red, amber and green traffic light. Add your own online safety rules next to each colour and display it near the family computer or tablet.
Role play
Act out what to say and do when something online feels wrong. Practise telling a trusted adult in calm, clear words.
Family safety plan
Write down the names of the trusted adults a child can go to. Agree together what to do if something worrying appears on a screen.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first round and let them lead. Stay calm and curious about their answers. Children share more when they feel listened to, not tested.
Teachers
Use it as a PSHE starter, a plenary or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. It links to the Computing online safety strand, so check it against your own plan.
Home educators
Use it on its own or alongside everyday talk about the devices your children use. Brothers and sisters can play together, and older children can write cards for younger ones.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children learn that devices are used with help from adults, and that they should ask before trying something new. They also learn to talk about how things make them feel. These early habits make sorting situations by colour much easier.
After this sheet, children can go on to think about sharing information, respectful messages and how to report concerns. Revisiting the traffic light idea as children grow lets them apply the same thinking to new apps, games and situations.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which colour would this action be, and why?
- What would you do if someone you did not know messaged you?
- Who could you talk to if something online worried you?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Online Safety Traffic Light Game for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can play with an adult reading the cards aloud, and older children can try the stretch idea.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Two to six players can take turns reading and sorting. Short rounds work well, and you can play again another day for longer discussion.
- What will children practise?
Children practise deciding which online actions are safe, need care or should stop. They also practise giving reasons and saying who they could tell if something online felt wrong.
- What if it feels too hard?
Start with only the red and green cards, then add the amber cards later. Read each card aloud and talk about how it would feel. Page 2 has help ideas for children who find it hard.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour printing is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and children can colour the cards if they like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a PSHE starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting, and page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and a pencil. That makes it useful for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking about online life without a device.
More like this
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.