Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify safety hazards at home, school, and in the community.
• Describe strategies for staying safe in these environments.
• Explain the importance of saying 'no' to unsafe situations.
• List trusted adults you can talk to.
• Know how to ask for help.

Lesson summary

This week, we will focus on Personal Safety. Personal safety is about knowing how to keep yourself safe in different situations. This is extremely important for Grade 4 learners in South Africa because our communities can sometimes be challenging places, and it's crucial to be aware and equipped to protect ourselves. We will learn about dangers at home, at school, and in the community, and develop strategies to stay safe. Understanding personal safety helps us feel more confident, make better choices, and get help when we need it. This knowledge empowers us to take care of ourselves and contributes to a safer environment for everyone.

Lesson notes

What is Personal Safety? Personal safety means taking care of yourself to avoid getting hurt or being in danger. It's about being aware of your surroundings and knowing what to do to keep yourself safe. This includes physical safety (avoiding accidents) and emotional safety (avoiding situations that make you feel scared or uncomfortable).

Safety at Home: Your home should be a safe space, but accidents can still happen.

Common dangers include: Fire Hazards: Leaving stoves unattended, playing with matches, faulty electrical appliances.

Example:* A pot left unattended on the stove can cause a fire.

Safety Tip:* Never leave the stove unattended when cooking. Make sure all electrical cords are in good condition.

Poisonous Substances: Cleaning products, medicines, and insecticides.

Example:* Drinking a cleaning product by mistake can be very dangerous.

Safety Tip:* Keep cleaning products and medicines locked away and out of reach of children.

Sharp Objects: Knives, scissors, broken glass.

Example:* Cutting yourself with a knife while helping in the kitchen.

Safety Tip:* Always use sharp objects carefully and under adult supervision.

Burns: Touching hot surfaces like stoves or irons.

Example:* Burning your hand on a hot iron.

Safety Tip:* Be careful around hot surfaces.

Safety at School: School is generally a safe place, but awareness is still important.

Potential hazards include: Bullying: Physical or verbal harassment from other students.

Example:* Being teased or hit by another learner.

Safety Tip:* Tell a teacher or trusted adult if you are being bullied or see someone else being bullied.

Accidents on the Playground: Falling from climbing frames, getting hit by swings.

Example:* Falling off the jungle gym and breaking your arm.

Safety Tip:* Use playground equipment carefully and follow the rules.

Stranger Danger: Unfamiliar adults approaching you.

Example:* An unknown adult offering you sweets or asking you to go with them.

Safety Tip:* Never talk to strangers or accept anything from them. Report any suspicious behavior to a teacher.

Safety in the Community: The community includes places like your neighborhood, parks, and shopping centers.

Potential dangers include: Traffic Accidents: Crossing the street without looking, playing in the road.

Example:* Getting hit by a car while crossing the street without looking.

Safety Tip:* Always look both ways before crossing the street. Use pedestrian crossings whenever possible.

Stranger Danger: Unfamiliar adults approaching you in public places.

Example:* An unknown adult asking you for directions or offering you a ride.

Safety Tip:* Never talk to strangers or go anywhere with them. Stick with a trusted adult.

Dangerous Animals: Stray dogs or other animals that may bite.

Example:* Getting bitten by a stray dog while walking home from school.

Safety Tip:* Avoid approaching stray animals. If an animal approaches you, stay calm and slowly back away.

Theft: Having your belongings stolen.

Example:* Someone snatching your cell phone while you are walking.

Safety Tip:* Be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close to you. Avoid walking alone in unsafe areas. Saying "No" to Unsafe Situations: It's important to know that you have the right to say "no" to anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

This includes: Saying "no" to a stranger who offers you a ride. Saying "no" to a friend who wants you to do something you know is wrong. Saying "no" to an adult who makes you feel uncomfortable.

Trusted Adults: Trusted adults are people you can talk to about anything, knowing they will listen and help you.

These can include: Parents Grandparents Teachers Aunts/Uncles Neighbors Asking for Help: If you feel unsafe, it's important to ask for help from a trusted adult. Be clear and specific about what happened.

For example: "I was walking home from school, and a strange man offered me a ride. I didn't know him, and it made me feel scared." Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Maria is home alone and smells smoke coming from the kitchen. What should she do?

Solution: Maria should immediately leave the house and go to a neighbor's house. She should then call her parents or the fire department from the neighbor's phone.

Commentary: The priority is to get out of the house safely. Calling from a neighbor's phone ensures safety.

Question 2: Thando is playing on the playground, and another child is pushing him repeatedly. What should Thando do?

Solution: Thando should tell the child to stop pushing him. If the child continues, Thando should tell a teacher or another adult supervising the playground.

Commentary: First, attempt to resolve the situation directly. If that fails, involve an authority figure.

Question 3: Sipho is walking home from school, and a stranger offers him sweets and asks him to get into his car. What should Sipho do?

Solution: Sipho should say "no" and walk away quickly. He should then tell a trusted adult about what happened.