Lesson Plan
Safety SOS Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify trusted adults, understand key personal safety strategies, and practice responding to risky situations through discussion and roleplay.
Equipping students with personal safety skills builds awareness, fosters confidence in seeking help, and ensures they can respond effectively when faced with potential dangers.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, handouts, and roleplay to practice safety strategies.
Materials
- Trusted Adults Map Handout, - Risky Situations Roleplay Cards, - Personal Safety Strategies Poster, - Projector or Smartboard, and - Whiteboard Markers
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print one copy of Trusted Adults Map Handout for each student.
- Print one set of Risky Situations Roleplay Cards per group of 4–5 students.
- Display the Personal Safety Strategies Poster on the board or projector.
- Ensure projector or smartboard and whiteboard markers are ready for use.
Step 1
Introduction to Personal Safety
5 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce the lesson objective.
- Ask: “What does personal safety mean to you?”
- Record definitions on the board alongside the Personal Safety Strategies Poster.
Step 2
Identifying Trusted Adults
8 minutes
- Explain why trusted adults are important when feeling unsafe.
- Distribute Trusted Adults Map Handout.
- Students fill in names of trusted adults in their lives.
- Invite volunteers to share one trusted adult and why they chose them.
Step 3
Exploring Safety Strategies
8 minutes
- Reference the Personal Safety Strategies Poster.
- Discuss key strategies (staying in groups, trusting instincts, setting boundaries).
- Prompt students to suggest real-life scenarios where these strategies apply.
Step 4
Risky Situations Roleplay
7 minutes
- Divide class into small groups of 4–5.
- Give each group a set of Risky Situations Roleplay Cards.
- Groups select a card, roleplay the scenario, and demonstrate a safe response.
- After each roleplay, classmates provide constructive feedback.
Step 5
Reflection and Closure
2 minutes
- Ask students to write one key takeaway and one trusted adult they’ll share it with.
- Collect reflections or have students briefly share out.
- Summarize main points and encourage ongoing conversation about safety.
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Slide Deck
Safety SOS: Personal Safety Strategies
A 30-minute lesson for 7th graders
• Identify trusted adults
• Explore key safety strategies
• Practice responding to risky situations
Welcome everyone! Introduce yourself and the lesson title. Explain that today we’ll learn practical personal safety strategies, identify trusted adults, and practice responding to risky situations.
Talking points:
- Today’s goal: feel confident keeping yourself safe and knowing who to turn to for help.
- We’ll use discussion, a handout, and roleplay.
Lesson Objectives
• Identify trusted adults in your support network
• Understand and apply personal safety strategies
• Practice safe responses through roleplay
Review the lesson objectives with students.
Script:
“By the end of today, you will:
- Name at least three trusted adults in your life.
- Describe key personal safety strategies.
- Demonstrate how to respond safely in a risky scenario.”
What Is Personal Safety?
• Personal safety means protecting yourself from harm and risky situations.
• It involves awareness, boundaries, and knowing when to seek help.
Question for class: What else comes to mind?
Engage students in defining personal safety.
Steps:
- Ask: “What does personal safety mean to you?”
- Invite volunteers to share responses.
- As they speak, record key words on the board beside the Personal Safety Strategies Poster.
Identifying Trusted Adults
- Grab your Trusted Adults Map Handout.
- Fill in names of adults you trust (family, teachers, coaches).
- Be ready to share one name and why you chose them.
Explain why trusted adults matter and introduce the handout.
Script:
“Trusted adults are people you can go to if you ever feel unsafe or need support. They listen, believe you, and help you act.”
Distribute Trusted Adults Map Handout now.
Key Personal Safety Strategies
• Stay in groups or with a buddy
• Trust your instincts (if it feels wrong, it probably is)
• Set clear boundaries with others
• Speak up and ask for help when needed
Reference the poster and discuss each strategy.
Talking points:
- Staying in groups keeps you safer.
- Trusting your instincts helps you notice danger.
- Setting boundaries tells others how you expect to be treated.
Ask for student examples of each.
Risky Situations Roleplay
- Form groups of 4–5 students
- Select one Risky Situations Roleplay Card
- Act out the scenario and show a safe response
- Give and receive constructive feedback
Introduce the roleplay activity and form groups.
Instructions:
- Divide into groups of 4–5.
- Each group gets a set of Risky Situations Roleplay Cards.
- Choose a card, act out the scenario, and demonstrate a safe response.
- After each roleplay, classmates give one positive comment and one suggestion.
Reflection & Closure
• Write one key takeaway from today’s lesson
• Name one trusted adult you’ll share it with
Thank you for participating! Keep these strategies in mind every day.
Wrap up the lesson and emphasize reflection.
Script:
“Take a moment to write down one key takeaway from today and the name of one trusted adult you’ll share it with.”
Collect responses or invite volunteers to share.
Worksheet
Trusted Adults Map Handout
Use this handout to identify adults you trust in different areas of your life. For each person, write their name and explain why you trust them. Then, think about how you might reach out to one of them if you ever felt unsafe.
Family
1. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
2. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
School
1. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
2. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
Community
1. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
2. Name: _________________________________
Why I trust them: ____________________________________________
Reaching Out
Choose one trusted adult from above and describe how you would contact them or let them know if you felt unsafe.
Name: _________________________________
How I would reach out (call, text, talk in person, etc.):
__________________________________________________________________________
What I would say:
__________________________________________________________________________
Reminder: Keep this sheet somewhere safe or give a copy to a trusted teacher or parent so you can find it when you need it!
Activity
Risky Situations Roleplay Cards
Use these cards to choose a scenario and practice a safe response. In your group, assign one person to roleplay the student, one as a bystander or friend, and one as the trusted adult or authority figure. After acting out the scene, discuss what went well and how you might improve.
Card 1: Stranger’s Ride
Scenario: You’re walking home after school when someone you don’t know offers you a ride in their car.
Card 2: Online Friend Request
Scenario: Someone you’ve never met in real life sends you a friend request on social media and asks for your home address.
Card 3: Peer Pressure
Scenario: A classmate offers you and your friend alcohol behind the school. They say, “Everyone’s doing it—don’t be lame.”
Card 4: Lost in the Mall
Scenario: You realize you’re lost in a crowded mall. A stranger approaches and says they’ll help you find your parents.
Card 5: Bullying Teasing
Scenario: A group of older students starts teasing you and pushes you in the hallway, calling you names.
Card 6: Personal Info Request
Scenario: Someone at your community center asks you to share your phone number and your friends’ schedules so they can “hang out.”
After each roleplay:
• Identify which personal safety strategies you used (staying with a buddy, trusting your instincts, setting boundaries, asking for help).
• Give one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement.
Reading
Personal Safety Strategies Poster
Stay in Groups 👫👬
Walk with friends or a trusted buddy whenever you can. Safety in numbers keeps you more visible and lowers your risk.
Trust Your Instincts 🕵️
If something feels off, trust your gut. Remove yourself from situations that make you uncomfortable.
Set Clear Boundaries ✋
Use a confident voice and body language to let others know what you will and won’t accept.
Speak Up 🗣️
If you feel unsafe or notice someone else in danger, raise your voice and tell a trusted adult right away.
Ask for Help ☎️
Identify adults you trust—parents, teachers, coaches—and reach out to them when you need support.
Plan Ahead 🗺️
Share your plans with someone you trust, know safe routes, and keep emergency contacts handy.
Keep this poster where you can see it every day. Remember these strategies to help keep yourself and your friends safe!