Strangers: Grades K - 1

Objective

• To identify trusted adults and learn how to respond to dangerous situations
• To develop critical-thinking skills
  

Activity

• Define the word "stranger" for children. A stranger is anyone they have never met before and do not know. Ask students to describe what a stranger may look like. Remind students that strangers can be men or women, young or old, short or tall, thin or fat, pretty or unattractive. Tell students that most strangers are kind but some can be dangerous.

• Explain that most people they know are kind, but some are not. Tell students that they can't tell whether a person is kind or not just by looking at him or her. People are kind because of what they do. Tell students that there sometimes a person may hurt someone else.

• Talk to students about dangerous situations they might encounter when out playing. Stress that these situations may happen with people they know or people they don't know.

• Remind students that before they go anywhere with anyone, they need to ask a parent or caregiver first. If anyone they don't know asks them for help or makes them feel scared, they should get to a safe place and tell an adult they trust.

• Ask students to list safe places where they could go if they are scared. The list could include a neighbor's house, library, school, police station, or other public place.

• Ask students to list as many adults as they can think of who could help them if they ever have a problem or are feeling scared. The list could include parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, and neighbors.

• Have students draw a picture of a grown-up who could help them, or a safe place they could go to. Display the pictures in the classroom.