Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify dangers at home and how to prevent them.
• Understand and practice online safety.
• Recognize unsafe situations in public and know how to respond.
• Know who your trusted adults are.
• Understand the importance of saying 'no' to things that make you feel unsafe.

Lesson summary

This week's Life Skills topic focuses on Keeping Myself Safe. Safety is a vital aspect of life, especially for young learners in South Africa, where diverse social contexts require children to be aware of potential dangers and know how to protect themselves. This topic explores various aspects of personal safety, including safety at home, safety online, and safety in public spaces. It emphasizes the importance of responsible decision-making and seeking help when needed. Understanding and applying these safety principles will empower learners to navigate everyday situations confidently and protect themselves from harm.

Lesson notes

2.1 Safety at Home: Our homes should be safe havens, but accidents can happen if we are not careful.

Common home hazards include: Kitchen dangers: Burns from hot stoves, ovens, or spilled liquids; cuts from knives or broken glass; poisoning from cleaning products.

Bathroom dangers: Slipping on wet floors; electrocution from electrical appliances near water; poisoning from medicines.

General dangers: Tripping hazards (e.g., toys on the floor); falls from stairs; electrical shocks from faulty wiring or damaged appliances; fire hazards (e.g., unattended candles, faulty electrical outlets).

Preventing Home Accidents: Kitchen: Always ask an adult for help when using the stove or oven. Keep knives out of reach. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet. Clean up spills immediately.

Bathroom: Always dry your feet before entering the bathroom. Never use electrical appliances near water. Store medicines in a locked cabinet.

General: Keep floors clear of clutter. Use handrails on stairs. Report any damaged electrical wiring or appliances to an adult. Never play with fire. Know the emergency numbers for police, ambulance, and fire department.

Example 1: The Boiling Kettle Sipho is making tea for his grandmother. He fills the kettle with water and puts it on the stove. He gets distracted by a TV program and forgets about the kettle. The kettle boils dry and starts smoking. Why is this dangerous? A boiling kettle that's left unattended can cause a fire. The steam can also cause serious burns. What should Sipho have done? Sipho should have stayed near the kettle and turned it off as soon as the water boiled. If he needed to leave, he should have turned off the kettle first. 2.2 Online Safety: The internet is a wonderful tool for learning and connecting with others, but it can also be a dangerous place if we are not careful.

Online dangers include: Cyberbullying: Being harassed or bullied online through messages, comments, or posts.

Strangers: Communicating with people online who you don't know in real life. These people may not be who they say they are.

Inappropriate content: Seeing pictures, videos, or messages that are upsetting or harmful.

Sharing personal information: Giving out your name, address, phone number, or school name online can put you at risk.

Staying Safe Online: Never share personal information: Do not give out your name, address, phone number, school name, or any other information that could identify you to someone you meet online.

Talk to a trusted adult: If someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or asks you for personal information, tell a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult.

Don't meet strangers: Never meet someone you have only met online in person without a parent or guardian.

Use strong passwords: Choose passwords that are difficult to guess and keep them secret.

Be careful what you post: Once something is posted online, it can be difficult to remove it. Think before you post anything online.

Example 2: The Online Friend Zandi is chatting with someone online who calls himself "Uncle Bob." "Uncle Bob" asks Zandi for her address so he can send her a gift. Why is this dangerous? "Uncle Bob" is a stranger, and Zandi doesn't know if he is telling the truth about who he is. Sharing her address could put Zandi at risk. What should Zandi do? Zandi should not give "Uncle Bob" her address. She should tell a parent or teacher about "Uncle Bob" and his request. 2.3 Safety in Public Places: Being aware of your surroundings and taking precautions can help keep you safe in public places.

Potential dangers include: Strangers: Being approached by strangers who make you feel uncomfortable.

Traffic: Crossing roads safely, especially in busy areas.

Crowds: Getting lost or separated from your group in crowded places.

Theft: Having your belongings stolen.

Staying Safe in Public Places: Stay with a group: Whenever possible, stay with friends or family when you are in public places.

Be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to what is happening around you and be aware of potential dangers.

Don't talk to strangers: If a stranger approaches you, do not talk to them. Walk away or seek help from a trusted adult.

Cross roads safely: Always look both ways before crossing the road and use pedestrian crossings when available.

Keep your belongings safe: Keep your belongings close to you and be aware of people around you.

Example 3: The Lost Child at the Mall Thabo is at the mall with his mother. He sees a toy he wants and runs towards the store without telling his mother. He gets lost and can't find her. Why is this dangerous? Thabo is alone and could be approached by strangers. He is also vulnerable to getting lost or hurt. What should Thabo do? Thabo should stay where he is and look for a security guard or a shop assistant. He can ask them for help to find his mother. He should know his mother's phone number.