Fun Activities to Teach Body Safety to First Graders

📚 Fun Activities to Teach Body Safety to First Graders

A comprehensive lesson plan designed to help first-grade students understand and practice body safety concepts.

🎯 Objectives

• 🧠 Students will be able to identify safe and unsafe touch.
• 🗣️ Students will be able to say "no" in uncomfortable situations.
• 🤝 Students will be able to identify at least three trusted adults they can talk to.

🛠️ Materials

• 🖍️ Crayons or markers
• 📃 Paper
• 🧸 A teddy bear or doll
• 📖 Storybooks about body safety (e.g., "Some Parts are NOT for Sharing" by Julie Federico)
• 🎶 Songs about body safety (optional)

Warm-up (5 minutes)

• 🧊 Icebreaker: Play a quick game of "Simon Says" focusing on body parts (e.g., "Simon says touch your nose," "Simon says touch your toes"). This helps children become more aware of their bodies.

Main Instruction (25 minutes)

1. 🧸 Safe and Unsafe Touch (10 minutes)

   • 🗣️ Use a teddy bear or doll to demonstrate safe and unsafe touch. Explain that safe touches are friendly and make us feel good (e.g., high-fives, hugs from family). Unsafe touches are confusing or make us feel uncomfortable.
   • ❓ Ask students for examples of safe and unsafe touches.
   • 🚦 Introduce the concept of "private parts" and explain that these areas are always private and should not be touched by others except for doctors or parents for hygiene reasons.

2. 🗣️ Saying "No" (10 minutes)

   • 💪 Role-play scenarios where someone offers an unsafe touch. Practice saying "NO!" loudly and confidently.
   • 🎭 Use different scenarios such as someone trying to tickle them when they don't want to, or someone trying to touch their private parts.
   • 💡 Emphasize that it’s okay to say "no" to adults if they feel uncomfortable.

3. 🤝 Trusted Adults (5 minutes)

   • 🧑‍🏫 Brainstorm a list of trusted adults (parents, teachers, grandparents, etc.).
   • 📝 Have each student draw a picture of their trusted adults or write their names on a piece of paper.
   • 💬 Explain that trusted adults are people they can talk to about anything, especially if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Assessment (10 minutes)

• ❓ Scenario Cards: Prepare scenario cards describing different situations. Have students act out how they would respond, focusing on saying "no" and telling a trusted adult.
• 🎨 Drawing Activity: Ask students to draw a picture of a safe situation and an unsafe situation, explaining their drawings to the class.

Additional Resources

• 🌐 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/
• 📖 Books: "My Body! What I Say Goes!" by Jayneen Sanders, "No Difference Between Us" by Jayneen Sanders