What to Do When You See Something Unsafe: A Grade 3 Action Plan

📚 What To Do When You See Something Unsafe: A Grade 3 Action Plan

Objective: Students will be able to identify unsafe situations and describe the appropriate actions to take in those situations.

Materials: Whiteboard or projector, markers, scenario cards (examples provided below), and a copy of the "Safety Superhero" worksheet for each student.

☀️ Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Begin by asking students: "What does 'safe' mean to you?" and "What does 'unsafe' mean to you?" Write their responses on the board. Guide the discussion to include examples of safe and unsafe situations at school, at home, and in the community.

👨‍🏫 Main Instruction

1. Recognize Unsafe Situations (15 minutes)

• 👀 Identifying Clues: Discuss clues that might indicate a situation is unsafe (e.g., someone is crying, yelling, or acting aggressively; broken glass; a fire; a stranger approaching).
• 🎭 Scenario Cards: Present scenario cards. Have students act out or discuss each scenario and identify the potential dangers. Example Scenarios:
  • A stranger offers you candy near the park.
  • You see someone fall and hurt themselves on the playground.
  • You smell smoke in your house.
  • A friend wants you to climb over a fence into a construction site.
• 🗣️ Class Discussion: After each scenario, discuss: What makes this situation unsafe? What could happen?

2. The Action Plan: The 3 Rs (15 minutes)

• 🏃 Remove Yourself: If possible, immediately remove yourself from the unsafe situation. Move to a safe place, like a classroom, a store, or near a trusted adult.
• 📣 Report: Tell a trusted adult (teacher, parent, principal, older sibling, or police officer) about the unsafe situation. Explain clearly what you saw and where it happened.
• 🤝 Refuse: If someone asks you to do something that feels unsafe, refuse to do it. It's okay to say "no"!

3. Practicing the 3 Rs (10 minutes)

• ✍️ Role-Playing: Revisit the scenario cards. This time, have students practice the 3 Rs in each scenario. How would they remove themselves? Who would they report to? How would they refuse an unsafe request?
• 🛡️ Safety Superhero Worksheet: Distribute the "Safety Superhero" worksheet. Students should draw a picture of themselves as a safety superhero and write down three promises they will make to stay safe (e.g., "I promise to tell a grown-up if I see something unsafe.")

📝 Assessment

Observation: Observe students' participation in discussions and role-playing activities.

Safety Superhero Worksheet: Review the completed worksheets to assess students' understanding of safety principles.

✅ Practice Quiz

• ❓ Question 1: You see a broken swing set at the park. Is this safe or unsafe? What should you do?
• ❓ Question 2: A stranger asks you to help them find their lost puppy. What should you do?
• ❓ Question 3: You smell smoke coming from the kitchen at home, but your parents aren't there. What should you do?
• ❓ Question 4: A friend dares you to climb a tall tree. You don't feel comfortable. What should you do?
• ❓ Question 5: You see someone bullying another student on the playground. What should you do?
• ❓ Question 6: You find a bottle of pills that looks like candy. What should you do?
• ❓ Question 7: You are walking home from school and notice a car is following you slowly. What should you do?