Personal Security – Basic 1 Security Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Personal security means all the things you do to protect yourself from danger, harm or injury. It is about being aware, being smart and being careful. In this lesson, students learn how to stay safe at home, at school, on the road and in public places.

Topic: Keeping yourself safe everywhere

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Define personal security
• List components of personal security at different places

What is personal security?

We have learned about security in different places. Today, we learn about personal security: how YOU can keep YOURSELF safe wherever you go.

Personal security means all the things you do to protect yourself from danger, harm or injury. It is about being aware, being smart and being careful to stay safe.

Why is personal security important?

• You are special and valuable
• Your safety matters to everyone who loves you
• You can prevent many accidents by being careful
• Being safe helps you enjoy life without fear
• You have the right to be safe

How can you stay safe at home?

In the kitchen

• Don’t play with knives, scissors or sharp objects
• Never touch the hot stove or oven
• Don’t play with matches or lighters
• Stay away when adults are cooking
• Don’t climb on counters to reach things
• Ask for help to get things from high places

In the living room

• Don’t insert fingers or objects into electrical sockets
• Don’t play with electrical wires
• Don’t climb on furniture
• Keep toys organised to avoid tripping
• Don’t touch hot irons

In the bathroom

• Don’t run on wet floors, because you can slip
• Don’t play with medicines or chemicals
• Tell parents immediately if you feel sick
• Don’t lock yourself in
• Don’t play with razors or sharp objects
• Don’t touch cleaning products

In your bedroom

• Keep your room tidy
• Don’t jump on the bed near walls or edges
• Keep small objects away from your mouth
• Don’t play with plastic bags (they can cause suffocation)

General home safety rules

• Tell your parents where you are in the house
• Don’t give personal information to strangers on the phone
• Know your full name, address and parents’ phone numbers
• Don’t let strangers in, even if they say they know your parents
• Know what to do in case of fire (stop, drop and roll)
• Don’t hide in dangerous places (freezers, closets with locks, etc.) during hide-and-seek

How can you stay safe at school?

In the classroom

• Sit properly on your chair
• Don’t run in the classroom
• Use scissors carefully during art class
• Don’t push or shove classmates
• Keep pencils and pens pointing down, not at people
• Tell your teacher if you don’t feel well
• Don’t put small objects in your mouth, nose or ears

On the playground

• Play in areas where teachers can see you
• Don’t go near the gate or fence
• Use playground equipment properly
• Don’t push on slides or swings
• Take turns and share equipment
• Tell a teacher if someone is hurt
• Don’t pick up broken glass or sharp objects
• Stay away from strange animals

In the school toilet

• Don’t go alone if possible
• Lock the door but don’t stay too long
• Don’t play with water
• Wash your hands after using the toilet
• Tell a teacher if you see something dangerous

During school activities

• Listen to your teacher’s instructions
• Walk in line when moving as a class
• Hold the handrail when using stairs
• Don’t lean out of windows
• During fire drills, follow instructions quickly and quietly
• Don’t wander away from your class during excursions

School security rules

• Never leave school with someone your parents haven’t told your teacher about
• Stay with your teacher always
• Don’t go home with friends unless your parents said it’s okay
• If someone you don’t know tries to take you, scream loudly and run to a teacher
• Report bullying to your teacher
• Don’t bring money or valuables to school unless necessary

How can you stay safe on the road?

When walking

• Always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road
• Look LEFT, then RIGHT, then LEFT again before crossing
• Use pedestrian crossings (zebra crossings)
• Walk on the footpath or sidewalk, not on the road
• Don’t run onto the road to pick up a ball or toy
• Obey traffic lights
• Don’t walk and play on your phone or tablet
• Be extra careful near parked cars (someone might be reversing)
• Don’t talk to strangers or accept lifts from people you don’t know

At the bus stop and in vehicles

• Stand away from the edge of the road
• Don’t push when entering or leaving
• Sit properly in the car or bus
• Always wear your seatbelt in cars
• Don’t put your head or hands out of vehicle windows
• Don’t distract the driver
• Get in and out of cars from the side away from traffic
• Only enter vehicles with people your parents trust

Traffic safety rules

• Red light = Stop
• Yellow light = Be careful/Get ready
• Green light = Go (but still look both ways!)
• Obey crossing guards and police officers
• Never cross between parked cars

How can you stay safe in public places?

At the market or mall

• Stay close to your parents
• Hold their hand in crowded places
• If you get lost, stay where you are or go to a shop worker or security guard
• Know your parents’ phone numbers
• Don’t wander off to look at things
• Don’t accept food or drinks from strangers

At places of worship

• Stay with your family
• Don’t run around
• Be respectful and quiet
• Know where to find your parents

At parties and events

• Stay where your parents can see you
• Don’t go outside or to another location without telling them
• Don’t eat food from strangers
• Stay with children your parents know

What are the general personal security tips?

Awareness

• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Trust your feelings: if something feels wrong, tell an adult
• Know the difference between safe touches and unsafe touches
• Your body belongs to you: no one should touch you in ways that make you uncomfortable

Communication

• Tell your parents or teacher if something worries you
• Don’t keep secrets that make you uncomfortable
• It’s okay to say NO to adults if they ask you to do something wrong or dangerous
• Speak up if you see someone being hurt

Stranger safety (review)

• Don’t talk to strangers when alone
• Don’t take anything from strangers
• Don’t go anywhere with strangers
• Don’t give personal information to strangers
• If a stranger tries to grab you, scream “THIS IS NOT MY PARENT!” and run away

Emergency response

• Know how to call for help
• Know your parents’ phone numbers
• Know your full name and address
• Know what to do in case of fire (stop, drop, roll)
• Know where emergency exits are

Good safety habits

• Always tell someone where you’re going
• Never keep dangerous secrets
• Stay in groups when possible
• Be polite but careful
• Think before you act
• Follow rules: they are made to keep you safe

Personal security pledge

I will stay safe by:

• Being aware of dangers around me
• Obeying safety rules
• Telling adults when I need help
• Staying away from dangerous places
• Being smart about strangers
• Taking care of my body and health

Remember

• Your safety is most important
• It’s always okay to ask for help
• Grown-ups who care about you want you to be safe
• Being careful is being smart, and there is no need to be scared
• You have the right to be safe everywhere you go

Class activity

Role-play different scenarios:

1. What to do if lost in a mall
2. How to cross the road safely
3. What to say to a stranger offering sweets
4. What to do if you see something dangerous

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. Personal security means keeping _____ safe
   a) toys
   b) yourself
   c) books
2. When crossing the road, hold _____
   a) nothing
   b) an adult’s hand
   c) your bag
3. At school, you should stay with _____
   a) strangers
   b) your teacher
   c) nobody
4. If you feel uncomfortable with how someone touches you, you should _____
   a) keep quiet
   b) tell a trusted adult immediately
   c) forget about it
5. Before crossing the road, look _____
   a) at the sky
   b) left, right, then left again
   c) at your shoes
6. At home, you should not play with _____
   a) your toys
   b) your friends
   c) matches and knives
7. If you get lost in a public place, you should _____
   a) run around crying
   b) stay where you are and ask a shop worker for help
   c) follow a stranger

Answers: 1-b, 2-b, 3-b, 4-b, 5-b, 6-c, 7-b

Assignment

1. Write or draw three places where you need to practise personal security (home, school, road).
2. Tell your parents one safety rule you learned for each place.
3. With your parents’ help, write down your full name, address and parents’ phone numbers. Keep this information safe.
4. Practise saying “NO” loudly (for stranger danger scenarios).