Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify five safety hazards at home.
• Describe three safety rules for school.
• Explain why we must follow instructions from adults.
• Know how to respond to a small cut or burn.
• Tell the difference between safe and unsafe actions.

Lesson summary

This week, we will focus on learning about safety rules at home and at school. Safety is very important because it helps us avoid accidents and injuries. Learning about safety rules allows us to protect ourselves and others. Accidents can happen quickly, but knowing how to prevent them makes a big difference. For example, knowing not to run with scissors or leave toys on the floor can prevent serious accidents. In South Africa, many homes and schools face different safety challenges, like access to safe water or electricity, making these lessons even more important.

Lesson notes

What is Safety? Safety means being protected from danger or harm. It's about taking actions to prevent accidents and injuries. We can make our homes and schools safer places by understanding potential hazards and following simple rules.

Safety at Home: Our homes are where we spend a lot of our time, so it’s crucial to identify and manage potential hazards.

Common hazards at home include: Electrical Hazards: These include exposed wires, faulty appliances, overloaded plugs, and playing with electricity near water.

Why: Electricity can cause serious shocks, burns, and even fires.

How: Avoid touching electrical outlets with wet hands, never pull plugs out by the cord, and report any damaged electrical items to an adult immediately. If you see a frayed wire, tell an adult immediately and don't touch it.

Example: Your mom is ironing clothes. Suddenly, you see sparks coming from the plug. What should you do? (Answer: Tell your mom immediately and stand back.)

Kitchen Hazards: These include sharp objects (knives, scissors), hot surfaces (stove, oven), and cleaning products.

Why: Sharp objects can cause cuts, hot surfaces can cause burns, and cleaning products can be poisonous if swallowed.

How: Never play with knives or scissors, always use oven mitts when handling hot items, and keep cleaning products in a safe place, away from children. Always ask an adult before using the stove.

Example: You want to help your mom bake a cake. What should you do before using the oven? (Answer: Ask for help and supervision.)

Bathroom Hazards: These include slippery floors, electrical appliances near water, and medicine cabinets.

Why: Slippery floors can cause falls, electrical appliances near water can cause shocks, and medicines can be dangerous if taken incorrectly.

How: Wipe up spills immediately, never use electrical appliances near water, and always ask an adult before taking any medicine.

Example: You see water spilled on the bathroom floor. What should you do? (Answer: Wipe it up immediately to prevent someone from slipping.)

Poisoning Hazards: These include medicines, cleaning products, pesticides, and other chemicals.

Why: Ingesting poisonous substances can cause serious illness or even death.

How: Keep all potentially poisonous substances in their original containers, clearly labelled, and out of reach of children. Never taste or smell unknown substances. If you suspect someone has swallowed poison, call for help immediately. In South Africa, the Poison Information Centre number is often provided on packaging.

Example: You find a colourful bottle under the sink. It smells sweet. What should you do? (Answer: Leave it alone and tell an adult immediately. Do not taste or smell it!)

Fire Hazards: These include matches, lighters, candles, and flammable liquids.

Why: Fire can spread quickly and cause serious burns, injuries, and property damage.

How: Never play with matches or lighters, keep candles away from flammable materials, and know how to evacuate the house in case of a fire.

Example: You smell smoke coming from the kitchen. What should you do? (Answer: Alert an adult immediately. If the fire is small and contained, and an adult is present, they may try to put it out with a fire extinguisher or wet cloth. Otherwise, evacuate the house and call for help).

Safety at School: Schools also have potential hazards that we need to be aware of.

Classroom Hazards: These include sharp objects (scissors, pencils), heavy objects (books, desks), and slippery floors.

Why: Sharp objects can cause cuts, heavy objects can cause injuries if they fall, and slippery floors can cause falls.

How: Handle sharp objects carefully, avoid running in the classroom, and report any spills immediately.

Example: You see a pencil lying on the floor in the classroom. What should you do? (Answer: Pick it up carefully and put it away or give it to the teacher.)

Playground Hazards: These include broken equipment, rough surfaces, and other children.

Why: Broken equipment can cause injuries, rough surfaces can cause scrapes and bruises, and other children may be playing unsafely.

How: Use playground equipment properly, watch out for broken equipment, and be aware of your surroundings. Report any broken equipment to a teacher immediately.

Example: You see a swing with a broken chain on the playground. What should you do? (Answer: Tell a teacher or playground monitor immediately.)

Corridor/Stairway Hazards: Running in the corridors, tripping hazards, overcrowding.

Why: Running increases the risk of bumping into others and falling. Tripping hazards cause falls.

How: Walk carefully, watch where you are going, and be mindful of others around you.

Example: It's break time, and everyone is rushing to get outside. What should you do? (Answer: Walk calmly and carefully to avoid bumping into others.)

Science Lab Hazards (If Applicable): Chemicals, glassware, open flames.