First Grade Curriculum Resources

Standard of Learning

1.3 The student will explain the need for specific rules and practices to promote personal safety and injury-free situations. Key concepts/skills include:

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Understanding the Standard

The student will explain the importance of practicing safety behaviors at home.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

identify home safety rules. (do not stick objects in electrical outlets, do not play with household chemicals or matches, do not answer the phone or the door, do not leave toys on the stairs, do not take medicines without permission, do put toys away, etc.)
identify why falls are a common accident in the home.
describe fire and water safety rules.

Sample Lessons

Be Smart, Be Safe!
Grade 1-12
In this lesson plan, students are asked to generate lists of safety rules in an assigned area of safety concern (bus safety, automobile safety, etc). Once complete, the teacher will work with the class to expand the lists, allowing the students to take part in establishing the safety rules they are expected to know.
http://www.dunebrook.org/lessons/be_smart_be_safe.htm
Sponsor: Dunebrook
Free

Everyday Hazards: Safety Lessons
Grades K-2
VDFP Kids focuses on four broad safety themes: installing and testing smoke alarms; planning and practicing escape routes; bicycle safety and hunting for home hazards. Each theme addresses major safety concerns for children in grades K-6. These lessons are correlated to the Virginia Standards of Learning.
http://www.vafire.com/fire_safety_education/vdfpkidsk-2.html
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Free

Safety City
Grade 1
It is important for students to be aware of the rules citizens must obey to stay safe and function normal in society, so this lesson plan outlines the basic information that students should be familiar with.
http://www.abilenepolice.com/safetycity/lesson%20plan.htm
Sponsor: Albilene Police
Free

Safety First
Grades K-1
It is important that children learn the importance of safety through different skills. Through this lesson, children will gain a perspective in recognizing unsafe situations and selecting the correct response or reaction. Teaching children to be aware is also teaching them to be responsible for themselves and to use their best judgments.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Safety/SFY0009.html
Sponsor: Educator’s Reference Desk
Free

Safety Watchers
Grades K-8
Following the successful format of Masters of Disaster™ natural hazards curriculum for children, Safety Watchers Home Fire Safety Lessons were written to meet education standards in science, math, and language arts, social studies, and art. The curriculum provides proactive ways for students and families to prepare and plan ahead by writing home evacuation plans and practicing drills, focusing on preparedness and safety.
http://www.vafire.com/fire_safety_education/curriculum.html
Sponsor: American Red Cross
Free

SunSmart
Grades: K-1
In this lesson, students learn how to protect themselves from the dangers of the sun. Although aimed at students living in Australia, this activity can be adapted by teachers worldwide.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – safety)
Free

Lesson Ideas

Have the students share with the class when and how they had a fall(s), and why it happened.
Emphasize that keeping stairs clear is a way of preventing injury. Also, remind students that they should be careful when climbing ladders or trees, and should not lean out of open windows.
Divide the students into groups of 4 and have them role-play ways to prevent falls at home and school.
Assess the students' knowledge and awareness about fireann danger through open discussion about guns, rifles, etc., and how they behave around guns.
Introduce the topic of safety around guns and emphasize basic rules when a gun is found. Introduce the video and tell students to listen for the four basic rules: STOP, don't touch, leave the area, and call an adult. Learn Gun Safety With Eddie Eagle (7 minutes), hosted by Jason Priestly, is an entertaining" and effective way to emphasize the four- rules.
Discuss ways to prevent falls, fires, and other injuries in and near the home, (i.e., small toys should be picked up, hold the rail when walking down stairs, don't play with matches).
Review the steps for calling 911 and other emergency numbers.
Briefly discuss what to do in floods/tornadoes (refer to Masters of Disaster, American Red Cross)

Additional Instructional Resources

American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_584_,00.html
A to Z Teacher Stuff - http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Fire_Safety/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc and http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/cmprfact.htm
Community Resource Officer
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/index.html
The Educators Reference Desk- School Safety - http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Health/Safety
Health Teacher (membership fee) - http://www.healthteacher.com
Kids Health For Kids- Watch Out - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/
Lowes Home Safety Council for Teachers - http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/home/home_april_w002.aspx
National SAFEKIDS Campaign - http://www.safekids.org
RISKWATCH - http://www.riskwatch.org
Safe America - http://www.safeamerica.org
Safe USA - http://www.safeusa.org
Safety – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/(health & fitness k-2)
VDH, Center for Injury & Violence Prevention (CIVP) - http://www.vahealth.org/civp
Virginia Center for School Safety - http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/vcss/index.cfm
Virginia Water Safety Coalition - http://www.watersafety.org
Watch Out - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

complete a home safety inspection checklist with the help of a parent.
create a safety pledge or a safety song.

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