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Playful & Safe!

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Lesson Plan

Playful & Safe!

Students will be able to identify and demonstrate safe and respectful ways to play with others, focusing on gentle hands, sharing, and taking turns.

Learning to play safely and respectfully is crucial for young children to build friendships, develop empathy, and ensure a positive learning environment for everyone.

Audience

Pre-K Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through a story, discussion, and interactive practice, students will learn and apply safe play skills.

Materials

Playful & Safe Slide Deck, Playful & Safe Script, Picture cards depicting safe and unsafe play scenarios (e.g., sharing toys, pushing, gentle high-fives), Soft toys or puppets for demonstration, Safe Play Sorting Activity, and Safe Play Role Play

Prep

Gather Materials & Review

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Does Safe Play Look Like?

5 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion: 'What does it mean to play safely?' 'Why is it important to be safe when we play with our friends?'
    - Show a few picture cards and ask the student to identify if the play is 'safe' or 'not safe' and why. Refer to Playful & Safe Slide Deck Slide 2. You can also use the Safe Play Sorting Activity as a warm-up option.

Step 2

Story Time: The Friendly Bear

10 minutes

  • Read a short story (or tell one using puppets) about a friendly bear who learns how to play gently and share with friends. Focus on positive examples.
    - Use the Playful & Safe Script for guidance on key talking points and questions.
    - Discuss the bear's actions and how they made other characters feel. Refer to Playful & Safe Slide Deck Slides 3-4.

Step 3

Practice Time: Gentle Hands & Sharing

10 minutes

  • Use soft toys or puppets to model safe play behaviors. For example, demonstrate 'gentle hands' when touching a friend, or how to share a toy by asking 'May I have a turn?'
    - Have the student practice these actions with the toys or with you. Provide positive reinforcement.
    - Emphasize taking turns and using kind words. Refer to Playful & Safe Slide Deck Slides 5-6. Incorporate scenarios from the Safe Play Role Play activity here.

Step 4

Cool Down: Safe Play Promise

5 minutes

  • Ask the student to recall one way they can play safely and kindly today. 'What's one thing you'll remember about playing safe?'
    - Reiterate the importance of safe and friendly play. Refer to Playful & Safe Slide Deck Slide 7. Complete the Safe Play Cool Down activity.
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Activity

Safe Play Role-Play Scenarios

Instructions: Let's pretend! We will use our toys (or puppets) to act out some situations. Remember to use your gentle hands and kind words, and to share and take turns.

Scenario 1: Sharing Toys

  • One person has a favorite toy. The other person wants to play with it too.
  • What can the person who wants the toy say?


  • What can the person with the toy do?


Scenario 2: Playing Together with Blocks

  • You are building a tall tower. Your friend wants to add a block, but they are very excited!
  • How can your friend show gentle hands?


  • What kind words can you use while building together?


Scenario 3: Saying "Excuse Me" (Gentle Bumps)

  • Sometimes we accidentally bump into a friend. What can we say and do to be kind?
  • Practice saying "Excuse me" and giving a gentle pat.


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Playful & Safe! • Lenny Learning