Signs we see every day
Geography · Early Years · The School
Signs without words
A sign can show a person on black and white stripes. That means a crossing. A sign can show a knife and fork. That means food is near. A sign can show a red circle with a line through it. That means NO — no matter what is inside the circle. These signs use pictures, not words.
Signs that keep you safe
A red octagon means STOP. A green walking person means it is safe to cross. A red standing person means wait. Traffic lights use colour, not words too. Red is for stop. Green is for go. Colour and shape send the message first.
Where signs live
Signs live on roads. They live in shops, at school and in parks too. A toilet sign shows a simple shape of a person. A no-dogs sign shows a dog with a line through it. An exit sign shows a running person and an arrow. Spot five signs on your next walk. Say what each one means.
Look at a sign with a bike inside a red circle. A line goes through it. You do not need to read a letter to get it: no bikes here. Now look at a sign with an arrow, next to a fork and spoon. That means food this way. It works even in a country where you cannot read a word. A good sign works for everyone, reader or not.