Respect & Trust: Your Safety Net - Teacher Script

Warm-Up: Adult Role Call (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick things off, I want you to take a look at the Warm-Up: Adult Role Call on your desks or on the board. I want you to quickly jot down 3-5 adults in your life whom you trust and why. Think about teachers, parents, guardians, coaches, aunts, uncles, grandparents – anyone older than you who you feel safe with and can rely on."

Pause for 2-3 minutes while students write.

"Alright, let's hear from a few of you. Who would like to share one adult they trust and why? What qualities do those adults have that make you trust them?"

Facilitate a brief discussion, highlighting themes like care, guidance, safety, and good advice.

Introduction to Respect and Trust (5 minutes)

"Excellent! Today, we're going to dive deeper into something really important: respecting adults and trusting that they are doing what's best for you and to keep you safe. Take a look at our first slide in the Respect & Trust Slide Deck titled 'Trust & Respect: Your Safety Net.'"

Advance to Slide 1.

"As you grow, you'll encounter many adults who are there to help guide you. My goal for you today is to understand why respecting adults and trusting their guidance is so important for your safety and well-being. It helps you build a strong 'safety net' around you."

Advance to Slide 2.

"So, what exactly do we mean by 'respecting adults' and 'trusting adults'? When we talk about respect, we mean treating adults with kindness, listening when they speak, and generally following their instructions. It's understanding that they often have more experience and knowledge. And trust? That's about believing they have your best interests at heart, feeling safe with their guidance, and knowing they will help you when you need it."

"Can anyone give an example of what respect looks like? What does it sound like? How about trust? How does it feel when you trust someone? Think about a time an adult helped you make a good choice or kept you safe. What happened?"

Allow for a few student responses.

Advance to Slide 3.

"Why should we trust their guidance? Well, adults are like your personal safety net! They have more experience, more knowledge, and it's their responsibility to keep you safe and help you grow. Their guidance helps you stay out of danger, learn new things, become responsible, and make good decisions for your future. Think about traffic rules, school rules, or even just advice on homework – these are all ways adults guide you for your benefit."

Why Trust Matters: Scenarios (10 minutes)

"Now, you're going to put your thinking caps on! I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a copy of the Trust Scenario Activity. You'll read through different situations involving kids and adults. For each scenario, I want your group to discuss these questions: How is respect or trust being shown, or how could it be improved? And importantly, why do you think the adult in the scenario is doing what they are doing? What's their intention?"

Divide students into small groups and distribute the activity.

Monitor groups, prompting discussion as needed.

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share their thoughts on Scenario 1? What did your group discuss?"

Facilitate a brief discussion for 2-3 scenarios, focusing on the rationale behind adult actions and the benefits of trust and respect.

Wrap-Up & Cool-Down (5 minutes)

Advance to Slide 4.

"Excellent work, everyone! To wrap up today, I want you to remember these key things: Respecting adults shows you value their role and their experience. Trusting adults helps keep you safe and guides you toward being your best self. They are truly there to support your growth and well-being!"

Distribute the Cool-Down: My Trusted Adult handout.

"For our cool-down, please complete this short activity. I want you to think about one specific adult you trust. How do they help keep you safe or guide you? Take a couple of minutes to write down your thoughts. This will be your exit ticket for today."

Collect cool-downs as students finish.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

"Thank you for participating in today's important discussion. Keep these ideas in mind as you interact with the adults in your lives. If you ever have questions or concerns about trusting an adult, please always feel comfortable talking to me or another trusted adult about it."

"Any final questions or thoughts before we transition?"

Warm-Up: Adult Role Call

Instructions: Think about the adults in your life. These could be family members, teachers, coaches, neighbors, or anyone older than you. List 3-5 adults you trust and briefly explain why you trust each of them.

1. Adult: _________________________
   Why I trust them:
   
   
   

2. Adult: _________________________
   Why I trust them:
   
   
   

3. Adult: _________________________
   Why I trust them:
   
   
   

4. Adult: _________________________
   Why I trust them:
   
   
   

5. Adult: _________________________
   Why I trust them:
   
   
   

Bonus Question: What qualities do all these trusted adults share?

Trust Scenario Activity

Instructions: Work with your group to read each scenario. Discuss the questions below each scenario, thinking about respect, trust, and why adults act the way they do. Be ready to share your group's thoughts with the class.

Scenario 1: The Late Night Text

Maya is at a friend's house. It's getting late, and her mom texts to say she needs to come home in 15 minutes. Maya sees her friends are still playing a fun game and she doesn't want to leave. She decides to text back, "Just a few more minutes!" without asking her mom.

• How is Maya showing (or not showing) respect and trust for her mom?
  
  
  
• Why do you think Maya's mom wants her to come home at that specific time?
  
  
  
• What could Maya do differently next time?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Scenario 2: The Online Game

Liam is playing his favorite online game. A new friend he met online asks for his full name and the name of his school. Liam's dad has always told him not to share personal information with strangers online. Liam thinks, "It's just a game, and this person seems nice," and types out his information.

• Is Liam showing trust in his dad's advice? Why or why not?
  
  
  
• Why do adults like Liam's dad give warnings about sharing personal information online?
  
  
  
• What should Liam do in this situation?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Scenario 3: The New Homework Rule

Ms. Davis, the 6th-grade math teacher, announces a new rule: all homework must be turned in by 8:00 AM each morning, instead of at the beginning of class. Many students complain, saying it's too early. David, however, decides to try it out, even though he also thinks it's a bit early.

• How is David showing respect for Ms. Davis?
  
  
  
• Why do you think Ms. Davis implemented this new rule? What might be her intention?
  
  
  
• What are the potential benefits of David trusting the new rule and giving it a try?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Scenario 4: The Playground Argument

During recess, two students get into a small argument on the playground. A schoolyard monitor, Mr. Johnson, comes over to ask what happened. One of the students immediately starts explaining their side, while the other shouts, "It's none of your business! We can handle it ourselves!"

• Which student is showing more respect and trust towards Mr. Johnson? Explain why.
  
  
  
• Why is it important for adults like Mr. Johnson to step in and help resolve conflicts?
  
  
  
• What are the potential consequences of telling an adult, "It's none of your business" when they are trying to help?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Cool-Down: My Trusted Adult

Instructions: Think about our discussion today about respecting and trusting adults. Complete the reflection below.

1. Name one adult you trust in your life (e.g., a parent, guardian, teacher, coach, older sibling, etc.):

   ---

2. Describe one specific way this adult helps keep you safe or guides you to make good choices. Provide an example if you can!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How does trusting this adult make you feel?
   
   
   
   

4. Based on today's lesson, what is one thing you learned or were reminded of about the importance of respecting and trusting adults?