Lesson Plan
Safety Squad: Stay Smart!
Students will identify various school safety rules and procedures, understand why they are important, and practice appropriate responses to different safety scenarios.
Knowing how to stay safe at school helps students feel secure, confident, and prepared for any situation, allowing them to focus better on learning and enjoy their school experience.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, reading, activity, and worksheet to reinforce safety concepts.
Prep
Preparation Steps
10 minutes
- Review the Safety Squad: Stay Smart! Lesson Plan and all linked materials.
- Print copies of the School Safety Reading for each student.
- Print copies of the Safety Scenario Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare the Safety Squad Slide Deck for presentation.
- Cut out the scenarios from the Safety Charades Activity Cards.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Safety Squad Slide Deck and greet students.
- Ask students: "What does 'safety' mean to you when you are at school?" (Allow a few students to share).
- Introduce the lesson objective: Today, we're going to become 'Safety Squad' experts by learning and practicing how to stay safe at school.
Step 2
Exploring School Safety (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Present the Safety Squad Slide Deck slides covering different safety areas (fire drills, lockdowns, strangers, playground rules).
- Distribute the School Safety Reading and have students read it independently or in pairs.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the slide deck, reinforcing key safety concepts from the reading.
Step 3
Safety Scenario Practice (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Introduce the Safety Charades Activity Cards.
- Divide students into small groups.
- Each group picks a card and acts out the safety scenario and the appropriate response without speaking. Other groups guess the scenario and explain the correct action.
- Distribute the Safety Scenario Worksheet and have students complete the first two scenarios independently.
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask students: "What is one new thing you learned about school safety today, or one safety rule you think is most important?" (Allow a few students to share).
- Briefly review the main points from the Safety Squad Slide Deck.
- Collect completed Safety Scenario Worksheet if desired for quick assessment.
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Slide Deck
Safety Squad: Stay Smart!
Welcome, Safety Squad Recruits!
Today, we're becoming experts in staying safe at school!
Greet students and introduce the topic of school safety. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear 'school safety.' Emphasize that being safe helps everyone learn and have fun.
What is School Safety?
It's about knowing how to protect ourselves and others.
It helps us feel safe, confident, and ready to learn!
What does 'safe' feel like?
Explain that school safety means knowing how to stay safe from different kinds of danger and what to do if something unexpected happens. Ask students why they think it's important to know about school safety.
Fire Drills: Sound the Alarm!
When the alarm rings:
- Stop what you are doing.
- Line up quickly and quietly.
- Walk calmly with your class.
- Go to your designated meeting spot outside.
- Listen carefully to your teacher!
Explain the purpose of fire drills. Walk through the steps: line up, walk calmly, no talking, meet at the designated spot. Stress listening to the teacher.
Lockdown: Secure & Silent!
When a lockdown is called:
- Move away from doors and windows.
- Sit on the floor, out of sight.
- Be completely quiet.
- Listen only to your teacher!
- Stay calm and wait for instructions.
Explain lockdowns in a calm, age-appropriate way. Focus on 'hiding and being quiet.' Emphasize following teacher instructions immediately.
Stranger Danger: Know Your Friends!
What if you see someone you don't know in school or near school grounds?
- Tell a trusted adult immediately (teacher, principal, parent).
- Never go anywhere with a stranger.
- Yell for help if you feel unsafe.
Discuss 'stranger danger' in a way that doesn't cause fear. Focus on identifying trusted adults (teachers, parents, guardians) and the rule: 'Never go anywhere with someone you don't know.'
Playground Safety: Play It Safe!
Playing outside is fun, but we still need to be safe!
- Use equipment correctly.
- No pushing or roughhousing.
- Share and take turns.
- Look out for your friends.
- Report any unsafe situations to an adult.
Review basic playground rules: no pushing, taking turns, using equipment safely. Connect it to physical safety and avoiding injuries.
You are the Safety Squad!
You now know important ways to keep yourself and others safe at school.
Remember to:
- Listen to adults.
- Follow rules.
- Speak up if you feel unsafe!
Together, we make our school a safe place!
Introduce the idea of a 'Safety Squad' to empower students. Reiterate that they are now equipped with knowledge to stay safe and help others. Encourage questions.
Reading
Staying Safe at School
School is a place where we learn, play, and make friends. To make sure everyone stays safe, we have important rules and plans. Knowing these rules helps us know what to do if something unexpected happens.
Fire Drills: When the Alarm Sounds!
Sometimes, a loud alarm will ring in school. This means it's time for a fire drill! Fire drills help us practice leaving the building quickly and safely in case there's ever a real fire. When you hear the fire alarm, remember to:
- Stop! Stop what you are doing right away.
- Listen! Listen to your teacher for instructions.
- Line Up! Walk calmly and quietly to form a line with your class.
- Go Outside! Follow your teacher outside to your special meeting spot.
- Stay Together! Stay with your class and wait for your teacher to say it's safe to go back inside.
Lockdowns: Be Safe, Be Silent!
Sometimes, your teacher might tell you it's time for a lockdown. A lockdown means we need to be very safe inside the classroom. This could be because there is something unsafe happening outside our classroom. During a lockdown, it's important to:
- Hide! Move away from windows and doors and sit on the floor where no one can see you.
- Be Quiet! Be completely silent. No talking, whispering, or making noise.
- Listen to Your Teacher! Your teacher will tell you what to do. Always follow their instructions right away.
- Stay Calm! Try to stay calm and remember that your teachers are keeping you safe.
Stranger Awareness: Know Who to Trust
Most people you meet are kind, but it's important to know how to be safe around strangers. A stranger is someone you don't know. At school, all adults should have a reason to be there. If you see someone you don't know who makes you feel uncomfortable, or if a stranger tries to talk to you or get you to go somewhere, remember to:
- Tell a Trusted Adult! Immediately tell your teacher, the principal, or another adult you know and trust.
- Say NO! If a stranger asks you to go somewhere or gives you something, say "NO!" firmly.
- Run and Yell! If a stranger tries to make you go with them, run away and yell loudly for help.
Playground Safety: Play It Safe!
The playground is a super fun place to play, but we still need to follow rules to stay safe and avoid getting hurt. Remember these tips when you're playing:
- Use Equipment Correctly: Only use playground equipment (swings, slides, monkey bars) the way it was designed to be used.
- No Pushing or Shoving: Keep your hands to yourself and be gentle with your friends.
- Share and Take Turns: Everyone wants a turn! Be patient and share the equipment.
- Look Out for Others: Be aware of who is around you and make sure you don't accidentally bump into anyone.
- Tell an Adult: If you see something broken, or someone is playing unsafely, tell a grown-up right away.
Worksheet
Safety Scenario Worksheet
Instructions: Read each scenario carefully. In the space provided, write down how you would respond to stay safe. Remember what we learned in our Safety Squad training!
Scenario 1: Fire Alarm!
You are working quietly at your desk when suddenly the fire alarm starts ringing loudly throughout the school. Your teacher immediately stands up and tells everyone to line up.
What do you do?
Scenario 2: Unexpected Visitor
You are on the playground during recess. You see an adult you don't recognize near the fence, waving at some students. The adult then walks toward you and asks if you want a piece of candy.
What do you do?
Scenario 3: Classroom Lockdown
Your class is doing an art project when your teacher suddenly says, "Lockdown! Get down and be quiet!"
What do you do?
Scenario 4: Playground Problem
You are playing on the swings and you see two other students pushing and shoving each other near the top of the slide. One student looks like they are about to fall.
What do you do?
Activity
Safety Charades Activity Cards
Instructions for Teacher:
- Print and cut out the cards below.
- Divide students into small groups.
- Each group picks a card and acts out the safety scenario and the appropriate response without speaking.
- Other groups guess the scenario and explain the correct action they would take.
Card 1
Scenario: The fire alarm rings!
Action: Line up quickly and quietly to exit the building.
Card 2
Scenario: A lockdown is announced!
Action: Move away from windows, get on the floor, and be silent.
Card 3
Scenario: A stranger tries to give you candy outside school.
Action: Say "NO!" loudly, run to a trusted adult, and tell them what happened.
Card 4
Scenario: You see two friends pushing each other on the playground.
Action: Tell a supervising adult immediately.
Card 5
Scenario: You find an unknown object in the hallway.
Action: Do not touch it, and tell a teacher right away.
Card 6
Scenario: You get lost from your class during a field trip.
Action: Find another adult with children and tell them you are lost, or find a safe public place to wait for help.
Card 7
Scenario: You see a spill on the classroom floor.
Action: Tell your teacher immediately to prevent slips and falls.
Worksheet
Safety Scenario Worksheet
Instructions: Read each scenario carefully. In the space provided, write down how you would respond to stay safe. Remember what we learned in our Safety Squad training!
Scenario 1: Fire Alarm!
You are working quietly at your desk when suddenly the fire alarm starts ringing loudly throughout the school. Your teacher immediately stands up and tells everyone to line up.
What do you do?
Scenario 2: Unexpected Visitor
You are on the playground during recess. You see an adult you don't recognize near the fence, waving at some students. The adult then walks toward you and asks if you want a piece of candy.
What do you do?
Scenario 3: Classroom Lockdown
Your class is doing an art project when your teacher suddenly says,