Kids love exploring the city: we spent the morning with the Save the City program at a Prague high school

At the end of October 2025, we took our educational program Save the City to the first-year students at Jan Patočka Gymnasium in Prague. We spent the entire morning exploring transportation issues with the kids. We discussed not only the students’ travel habits and the impact of different modes of transport on the environment, but also the purpose and function of public spaces. We even went out into the field on a research expedition, looking at the space around us from a slightly different perspective.

After a brief introduction to AutoMat, a survey of preferred ways of getting to school in the heart of Prague, and a discussion of the issues related to them, the class split into three smaller groups. Each group worked together on tasks from our activity kit—and to our surprise, they performed exceptionally well.

Work done to perfection

It turned out that the children were very aware of what causes too much car traffic in cities, had a strong understanding of the differences between clean energy and fossil fuels, and had a clear idea of the purpose of public spaces versus the reality of how they are used. Each group chose a spokesperson to present their findings to the rest of the class. The students clearly enjoyed the collaborative work: everyone was engaged while also giving plenty of space for their peers to contribute.

The quartet takes center stage

The class teacher was also pleased, though she refused to take credit for the students’ good mood and natural curiosity. “They come to us already shaped this way by their families, and yes, they really are wonderful,” she told us about her students. After the theoretical part in the classroom, it was time for a walk and observation in the streets. This was also when our Zažij město quartet came into play—a prototype set of cards illustrating urban elements. Each participant received one card and was tasked with counting how many times they encountered “their” specific element in the public space.

How many drinking fountains are around?

Together, we set out into the streets of Prague 1 to explore how the capital functions in terms of mobility. We observed how street space is divided between cars and people, how difficult it is to find a tree in the city center, how far apart pedestrian crossings are, and how the character and density of buildings affect the overall feeling of a place. At the same time, the children were still working on their personal task: counting the occurrences of the element depicted on their card. The student with the drinking fountain card looked a bit disappointed, as did the boy assigned to count public toilets. Some things—or their absence—simply go unnoticed during everyday city life.

Exploring with all the senses

We took a close look at V Celnici street, experiencing the space with all our senses, examining barriers and the street’s layout. “Thanks to the thoughtfully designed worksheet, the children move from a general first glance to studying details that a normally busy person wouldn’t notice at all. I’m genuinely surprised by how much most of the children enjoy this kind of discovery,” says Zuzana Poláková, Head of Education at AutoMat. The groups were lively, identifying different surface qualities and obstacles, and moving around the space due to unpleasant smells or noise.

City Researchers

With the first-year students, we had the chance to spend an entire morning, so we concluded with a favorite activity focused on how different modes of transport occupy space. The session included measurements, modeling, and brainstorming. “After a year of development and testing, Save the City has settled into the form of a research expedition, combining inquiry-based learning with elements of experiential education. The role of researchers fits the children well, and everyone finds something for themselves in the program,” adds instructor Linda during the final reflection, when the students shared their observations about the program.

Want to try it too?

Would you like to book a similar walk or organize one yourself? Soon, the full program offering for next year will be available at auto-mat.cz/zachran-mesto. You can also download worksheets and guides for transportation-themed walks to run on your own, or order the Zažij město cards in the original quartet format and try drawing cards with your family or friends for everyday urban explorations.

The program was financially supported by the City of Prague.

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