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When Words Threaten: Speak Up Safely!

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Kelly Rogers

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

When Words Threaten: Speak Up Safely!

Students will be able to define what a threat is, identify how threats make people feel, and recall at least three trusted adults they can report a threat to.

Learning how to address threats safely is crucial for maintaining a secure and supportive school environment. It empowers students to protect themselves and others, fostering a sense of community and well-being.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, emotional exploration, and a clear, actionable reporting strategy.

Materials

Small whiteboards or paper for each student, Markers or pencils, and Slide Deck: Your Safety Superpower

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review the Lesson Plan: When Words Threaten: Speak Up Safely! to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
    - Prepare the Slide Deck: Your Safety Superpower for presentation.
    - Gather small whiteboards or paper and markers/pencils for each student.

Step 1

Introduction: What's a Threat?

3 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "What does it mean to feel safe?"
    - Transition to discussing words: "Can words make us feel unsafe?" Introduce the idea of a 'threat' as words or actions that scare us or promise harm.
    - Use Slide 1: What is a Threat? to guide the definition. Emphasize that threats are serious and make people feel unsafe.

Step 2

How Do Threats Make Us Feel?

3 minutes

  • Ask students to think about how they might feel if someone made a threat. (e.g., scared, worried, sad, angry).
    - Use Slide 2: Feelings About Threats to prompt discussion. Validate all feelings and emphasize that these feelings are normal when facing a threat.

Step 3

Your Safety Superpower: The 3 'T's!

5 minutes

  • Introduce a simple three-step action plan for threats: Think, Take Action, Tell a Trusted Adult.
    - Explain each step using Slide 3: Your 3 Steps to Safety!.
    - Think: Is this really a threat? Is it meant to scare or harm?
    - Take Action: If it feels unsafe, try to calmly remove yourself from the situation.
    - Tell a Trusted Adult: This is the most important step! Identify who trusted adults are.
    - Use Slide 4: Who Can You Trust? to list examples of trusted adults (teacher, principal, parent, counselor, librarian, etc.). Have students write down 2-3 trusted adults on their whiteboards/paper.

Step 4

Wrap-up: Be a Safety Superhero!

4 minutes

  • Reiterate that telling a trusted adult is not 'tattling'; it's being brave and responsible for everyone's safety.
    - Use Slide 5: Be a Safety Superhero! to reinforce the message.
    - Ask students to share one thing they learned about handling threats.
    - End with a strong affirmation about their ability to keep themselves and others safe by speaking up.
lenny

Slide Deck

What is a Threat?

A threat is when someone says or does something that makes you feel:

  • Scared
  • Unsafe
  • Worried that someone might get hurt

Words have power! They can hurt feelings AND make people fear for their safety.

Start by asking students: "What does it mean to feel safe at school?" Then, introduce the idea that sometimes words or actions can make us feel unsafe. Define a 'threat' in simple, age-appropriate terms.

Feelings About Threats

When someone makes a threat, it's normal to feel:

  • Scared
  • Worried
  • Confused
  • Unsafe
  • Sad or Angry

It's important to remember: These feelings are okay!

Ask students: "How might you feel if someone said something threatening to you or a friend?" Encourage them to share feelings like scared, worried, sad, or angry. Emphasize that all these feelings are normal and valid.

Your 3 Steps to Safety!

If you hear or see a threat, remember your 3 T's:

  1. Think: Is this really a threat? Is someone trying to scare or harm?


  2. Take Action: If it feels unsafe, try to calmly walk away or remove yourself from the situation.


  3. Tell a Trusted Adult: This is your most important superpower!

Introduce the 3 'T's: Think, Take Action, Tell. Explain each step clearly. Emphasize that 'Tell a Trusted Adult' is the most critical step for safety.

Who Can You Trust?

A Trusted Adult is someone who will:

  • Listen to you
  • Keep you safe
  • Help solve the problem

Who are your Trusted Adults?

  • Teacher
  • Principal
  • School Counselor
  • Parent/Guardian
  • Librarian
  • Other school staff









Ask students to brainstorm who their trusted adults are at school and at home. Write a few examples on the board. Have students write 2-3 trusted adults on their whiteboards or paper.

Be a Safety Superhero!

Telling a trusted adult about a threat is NOT tattling.

It is being a Safety Superhero! You are:

  • Brave
  • Responsible
  • Helping to keep everyone safe

Your words can make our school a happier, safer place for all!

Reinforce that reporting a threat is not tattling; it's being responsible and brave. Ask students for one thing they learned today about keeping themselves and others safe.

lenny

Lesson Plan

Speak Safely, Play Nicely!

Students will be able to identify and use safe, respectful language in various situations.

Using safe language creates a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. It helps build stronger friendships and a positive classroom community.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and practical examples.

Materials

Small whiteboards or paper for each student, Markers or pencils, and Slide Deck: Safe Language Superheroes

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review the Lesson Plan: Speak Safely, Play Nicely! to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
    - Prepare the Slide Deck: Safe Language Superheroes for presentation.
    - Gather small whiteboards or paper and markers/pencils for each student.

Step 1

Introduction: What is Safe Language?

3 minutes

  • Begin by asking students what 'safe' means in general.
    - Transition to 'safe language' by asking how words can make people feel safe or unsafe.
    - Use Slide 1: What is Safe Language? to introduce the concept. Ensure students understand that safe language is respectful, kind, and doesn't hurt others.

Step 2

Examples & Non-Examples

5 minutes

  • Present scenarios (using Slide 2: Good or Bad? and Slide 3: Let's Practice!) and ask students to identify if the language used is safe or unsafe.
    - For unsafe examples, prompt students to suggest how to rephrase them using safe language.
    - Encourage volunteers to share their thoughts and reasoning.

Step 3

Be a Language Superhero!

5 minutes

  • Introduce the idea of being a 'Language Superhero' (using Slide 4: Be a Language Superhero!).
    - Have students write down one way they can use safe language today on their whiteboards/paper.
    - Ask a few students to share their ideas with the class.
    - Emphasize that using safe language is a powerful way to show respect and build a positive community.

Step 4

Wrap-up & Review

2 minutes

  • Briefly recap the importance of safe language.
    - Reinforce that words have power and choosing kind, respectful words makes a big difference.
    - End with a positive affirmation about their ability to be language superheroes.
lenny

Slide Deck

What is Safe Language?

Words have power! They can make people feel:

  • Happy and included
  • Sad or left out

Safe language is:

  • Respectful
  • Kind
  • Inclusive
  • Thoughtful

It helps everyone feel safe and valued in our classroom!

Start by asking students: "What does 'safe' mean?" (e.g., safe place, safe feeling). Then, transition to: "How can our words make people feel safe or unsafe?" Introduce the concept that safe language is respectful, kind, and doesn't hurt others. Emphasize that words have power.

Safe or Unsafe Language?

Let's look at some examples!

Scenario 1: "Your idea is silly!"
Scenario 2: "I really appreciate your input, even if it's different."
Scenario 3: "You always mess things up."
Scenario 4: "Let's work together to fix this mistake."

Present simple scenarios. For each, ask students: "Is this safe language or unsafe language? Why?" Encourage discussion around the impact of words. Examples:

  • "That's a dumb idea." (Unsafe)
  • "I don't understand, can you explain more?" (Safe)
  • "Your drawing looks weird." (Unsafe)
  • "I like how you used bright colors in your drawing!" (Safe)

Let's Practice!

How can we change these to safe language?

  1. "That game is boring!"






  2. "I don't want to play with __, they're not good at it."






  3. "You're wrong!"






Present more complex scenarios or phrases and ask students how they could rephrase unsafe language into safe language. Have them turn and talk to a partner, or write ideas on their whiteboards/paper.

  • Unsafe: "Only girls play with dolls." -> Safe: "Anyone can play with whatever they enjoy!"
  • Unsafe: "You're too slow." -> Safe: "Let's try to find a pace that works for everyone."

Be a Language Superhero!

You have the power to make our classroom a happier, safer place!

A Language Superhero always chooses words that:

  • Lift others up
  • Show respect
  • Include everyone

What's one way you can be a Language Superhero today?












Encourage students to think about how they can actively use safe language. Ask them to write down one specific action they will take today or this week. Share a few examples. Reinforce that they have the power to create a positive environment.

lenny