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Dad Field Manual · Field card 161 · Outdoors

Big machines watch: planes, trains or diggers

Big machines hold a little kid's attention. Pick a safe public spot, bring a spotter sheet and snacks, and count and name what goes by.

Time
90 min
Cost
$0
Ages
2 to 8
Where
A public spot near the action

What you need

  • A spotter sheet: paper folded into six boxes, one machine drawn in each
  • A pencil and a clipboard or hard book
  • Snacks and water
  • Kid earmuffs or earplugs for loud spots
  • A blanket or folding chairs

Before you go

  • Stay off the tracks. Railroad property is off limits except at marked crossings. Trains come from either direction at any time and hang 3 feet or more past the rails.
  • Stay behind the fence. Watch construction from the public sidewalk and planes from public areas. Never go through a gate, a gap or past a keep-out sign.
  • Hold hands near traffic. Kids under 10 don't cross streets alone. In parking lots, watch for cars backing out.
  • Protect small ears. Very loud sound can damage hearing, even briefly. If an engine is loud where you stand, put on their earmuffs or move farther back.

Steps

  1. Pick the spot. Pick a public spot near planes, trains or a working construction site. Check posted hours or timetables.
  2. Make the spotter sheet. Fold paper into six boxes and draw one machine in each. Your kid colors them in.
  3. Set up base camp. Set up well behind the fence or barrier. Show the line nobody crosses.
  4. Spot, count and name. Make a tally mark for each machine. Name it out loud and ask what it's doing.
  5. Guess what's next. In quiet spells, each guess what comes next. A right guess earns a star on the sheet.
  6. Count up. Add up the tallies, circle the winner, and write the place and date on the back.

If it stalls

  • If nothing comes for a while, eat the snacks and draw the machine you're waiting for. Give it twenty minutes, then try a busier spot next time.
  • If the noise upsets them, move farther back and try the earmuffs. Watching from a distance still counts.
Machines spotted · most-seen machine
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date