NOTE TO EDUCATORS:

With the rebirth of railroad stations all across the country, some of them coming alive with a revitalization of their original purposes, the following activity is a good one to either celebrate the station or increase interest in it.

What is Locomotion Commotion? It is a physical activity designed to demonstrate the size and feel of the great railroad stations in their glory days. This activity can be done on the playground, in a gymnasium or any large space. If you can pace off an area equal to any one of the measurements of the Station, for instance, the head house or the waiting room and then take just part of that space for the activity, it will give students feeling of the vastness of the space. Consult a place for actual measurements. The following commentary will give you an idea of how you can run the activity. Since some children may not have visited the Station, you may need to begin with a generic approach to "travel buildings" and then work up to the specific station in your community.

"Have you ever been to a train station? a bus depot? an airport? any busy place? People are rushing around, getting ready for their trips, checking their tickets. What else are they doing? (Looking up at the schedules, moving their bags, buying a magazine, taking their hats off and on, sorting through their pockets, motioning to others to follow them, rustling around in their briefcases.) Think of all the things that you see people doing there." Allow time for children to give their own answers.

"Now... remember what you know about railroad stations and particularly this station. Who worked there? What was there to see? To do? Pretend you are just one of those people. Are you meeting someone, going someplace, or working? When you decide which activity you want to act out, think of five or six special things that person would be doing... then, begin Locomotion Commotion.

"The entire class will be doing this at one time. Walk very hurriedly for five counts, then stop for five counts and do one of the activities you have thought of (perhaps check your watch) for five counts...and change direction. Continue in another direction and portray another activity during the action period. Walk, pause, act. Walk, pause, act. Could someone guess who you are by what you are doing? Let's try it again. This time we'll go a little faster. People at a station are usually in a hurry. Also, this time, you can decide on your own rhythm: for instance, you might walk for three and "act" for five. Everyone will be doing something in a different rhythm, just as you see travelers at a train station doing.

"Finally, let's pick five people who will be in a really big hurry. At the third change of activity, these five people will rush off -- faster than everyone else -- to catch a train, to meet a friend, to dash for the car? Some other people will want to rush after them. What happens when you rush someplace? You usually have to stand in line when you get there. And what do you do in line? Check your watch, take off your hat, look at the schedule. You might copy the actions of the person in front of you. Who gets out of the line first? The "hurriers?" People who get tired of waiting? Maybe they start their own lines."

You can repeat this activity as long as the students are interested and there is time. Follow it up in the classroom with a reinforcement of the "busy-ness" of railroads and the economic importance of railroads to the city.