Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 2
Personal and social well-being: safety and problem-solving – Week 8 focus
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Personal and social well-being: safety and problem-solving – Week 8 focus
Download the Lessonotes Mobile South Africa app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Life Skills
Class: Grade 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 8
Theme: General lesson support
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This lesson focuses on equipping Grade 2 learners with fundamental problem-solving skills for situations that might threaten their personal safety. In South Africa, children navigate various social environments, from busy taxi ranks and shopping centres to quiet rural roads. It is crucial they learn to identify unsafe situations, think clearly under pressure, and know how to act appropriately. This lesson moves beyond simply listing rules and empowers learners with a simple, memorable strategy ('Stop, Think, Act') to apply in real-life scenarios.
What is a Safety Problem? A safety problem is any situation that makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, worried, or in danger. It’s that 'uh-oh' feeling in your tummy that tells you something is not right.
Example: A stranger you don't know asks you to get into their car. This is a safety problem.
Example: You are playing at the park, and when you look up, you can't see your family anymore. This is a safety problem.
How to Solve a Safety Problem: Stop, Think, Act! When you have that 'uh-oh' feeling, it's easy to panic. We can use three simple steps to help us stay calm and make a smart choice. We call it Stop, Think, Act!
STOP: The very first thing you do is stop what you are doing. Stand still and take a big, deep breath. This helps your brain calm down so you can think clearly.
THINK: Ask yourself some questions: "What is the problem?" (I am lost. A stranger is talking to me.) "Who can help me?" (A teacher, a police officer, my gogo, the cashier in the shop.) "What is the safest thing I can do right now?" ACT: Now you do the safest thing you thought of. This is your action.
Your action could be: Shouting: Yell "NO!" or "HELP!" very loudly.
Running: Run away from danger towards a safe place or a trusted adult.
Telling: Go immediately to a trusted adult and tell them what happened. Who Are Trusted Adults? A trusted adult is a grown-up who you know well, who cares about you, and who always helps to keep you safe. Strangers are people you do not know. We are friendly, but we never go anywhere with a stranger or take things from them.
Examples of Trusted Adults: Your parents, grandparents (Gogo/Umkhulu), or guardians. Your teacher or the principal at school. A police officer in uniform. A security guard in a uniform at the mall. A family member you know very well, like an aunt or uncle.
Scenario: You are in Shoprite with your mom. You turn to look at some chips, and when you turn back, she is not there.
STOP: You stop walking. You take a deep breath.
THINK: "What is the problem? I can't find my mom. I am lost. Who can help? A person working here in a uniform." You remember your mom said if you get lost, stay where you are or go to a cashier.
ACT: You walk to the nearest cashier (the person at the till) and say clearly, "Excuse me, I can't find my mom. Can you please help me?"
Your Personal Information is Your Superpower!
Knowing your personal information is like having a secret superpower to help people get you back to your family if you are lost.
Every safety superhero needs to know:
Your Full Name: Not just your nickname. Say it clearly.
Your Parents'/Guardians' Full Names: This helps officials find them.
Your Address OR a Phone Number: Knowing where you live or a number to call is the best way for helpers to contact your family.
Important Emergency Numbers
These are special numbers to call only in a real emergency, when someone is hurt or in big danger. A grown-up should always help you make the call.
10111 (one-zero-one-one-one): This is for the South African Police Service (SAPS). You call this number when someone is stealing, breaking in, or trying to hurt someone. They are crime fighters.
10177 (one-zero-one-seven-seven): This is for an Ambulance and Medical Emergencies. You call this number when someone is very sick or has been badly hurt, for example, in a car accident or a bad fall. They are life savers.
Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Question 1: You are waiting for your transport after school. A car stops, and a man you don't know says your mom sent him to fetch you. What do you do?
Worked Solution:
STOP: Do not move towards the car. Take a small step back. Stay calm.
THINK: "This is a stranger. I don't know him. My parents told me they would always tell my teacher if someone different is fetching me. This feels wrong. This is a safety problem."
ACT: Do NOT get in the car. Say "NO" loudly. Turn around and run straight back into the school building to find your teacher or any other adult at the school. Tell them exactly what happened.
Commentary: This solution reinforces the 'stranger danger' rule and empowers the child to trust their feelings. The action plan is clear and directs them to a place of safety (back into the school).
Question 2: While playing soccer with your friends on the field, your friend falls and hits his head hard. He is crying and not getting up.
Worked Solution:
STOP: Stop the game immediately. Do not try to pick your friend up or move him, as this could hurt him more.
THINK: "My friend is hurt badly. This is an emergency. I need a grown-up right now. The teacher on duty is the closest trusted adult."
ACT: One friend should stay with the hurt child, while you or another friend run as fast as you can to get the teacher on duty. Tell the teacher, "Sipho fell and hit his head. He is on the field, and he is not getting up!" The teacher will know what to do next.
Commentary: This scenario teaches responsibility and the correct procedure in a medical situation at school. It highlights the importance of getting adult help immediately rather than trying to solve the problem alone.
Question 3: You answer the house phone, and the person on the line asks if your parents are home. You are home alone for a few minutes while your mom is talking to the neighbour over the fence.
Worked Solution:
STOP: Do not give any information away.
THINK: "I don't know who this is. I should not tell them I am alone. That is not safe information to share."
ACT: Say, "My mom can't come to the phone right now. Can I please take a message?" This is a safe answer. Do not say she is outside or that you are alone. Write down the message if you can, and tell your mom as soon as she comes back inside.
Commentary: This teaches a crucial aspect of telephone safety. It provides learners with a safe, scripted response that protects their personal information and safety without being rude.
Independent Practice (Questions Only)
Draw a picture of two different trusted adults you can talk to if you have a problem.
Write down the emergency number you would call if you see a fire.
What are the three steps in our safety plan? (S____, T____, A__)
Your full name is: ________________________________
Your parent's/guardian's name is: ________________________
A stranger offers you a chocolate on your way home. What do you say and do?
Imagine you see a younger child from Grade R who is lost and crying in the school playground. What is the best way to help them?
Why is it important to NOT tell a stranger your address?
With a partner, act out what you would do if you got lost in a big shop like Pick n Pay.
What is the difference between a secret and a surprise? (A surprise is fun, but a secret that makes you feel bad or unsafe should always be told to a trusted adult).