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Stranger Danger/Intruder Alert

published on: 10/6/2003

Contributing Teacher(s): Amy Morrison

Subject Area: Integrated Curriculum/Emergency Awareness/Preparedness, Health and Physical Education/Physical Education

Grade Range: Lower Elementary (K-3)

Materials Needed:

• One Hula-Hoop for every 2-3 children
• Cones to designate boundaries
• A copy of your school''s emergency procedures for strangers and intruders

Objective: This lesson will prepare students to respond appropriately to an emergency situation involving strangers or intruders on school property. This lesson should be prefaced with information about strangers and intruders. Children should be aware of what to do when approached by a stranger or if an intruder enters the school. This lesson could easily be paired with existing curriculum on stranger danger and intruders. The counselor may want to partner some lessons with the physical education teacher to create a complete cross-curricular unit.

Process Standards:

• Goal 3.1 identify problems and define their scope and elements
• Goal 4.7 identify and apply practices that preserve and enhance the safety and health of self and others

Content Standards:

• Health/Phys Ed 5. Methods used to assess health, reduce risk factors, and avoid high risk behaviors...
• Health/Phys Ed 6. Consumer health issues (such as the effects of mass media and technologies on safety...

  Time Allowance: 20 - 25 minutes

  Description: This lesson will teach children to react appropriately to a stranger (terrorist) in the school--safe places, code words, intruders

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  Classroom Component:
  Teacher Notes: This lesson could also be used by the guidance teacher. Consult your school's emergency procedures before teaching this lesson.
  
  Implementation: Use cones to designate the playing area. Hula-Hoops are scattered in the safe zone located at one end of the playing area. Children are instructed to stay inside the boundary lines. On the teacher's signal, students will perform a specific locomotor activity inside the playing area. Students should be reminded to take care when playing and not run into others. *When the instructor uses the word "Bongo" all students should immediately go to their safe spot. The safe spot is inside a Hula-Hoop. There should be enough Hula-Hoops so that no more than 2-3 children are in each hoop. Children inside the hoop should be instructed to remain still and quiet.
  
  *Most schools have a code word that indicates an intruder is in the building. Use discretion when choosing your alert word.
  
  After two to three rounds of the game, stop play and discuss where the safe spots in the school are located. This could also be a good time to discuss your school lockdown situations and procedures as well as emergency phone numbers.
  
  

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  Assessment:
  
  The following quiz could be given for assessment. The quiz could be given orally to the class or be a paper and pencil test for older students. The K-2 classes would probably respond better to an oral test. If there is no need for a graded test, use choral response to check for understanding. The questions should be adjusted to fit the level of your students.
  
  1. Define stranger.
     
     
     
     
  2. Define intruder.
     
     
     
     
  3. Where is the safe spot in this room?
     
     
     
     
  4. Where is the safe spot in your classroom?
     
     
     
     
  5. What should you do if you are in the hall and you hear the alert word?
     
     
     
     
  6. Where is the safe spot in your home?
     
     
     
     
  7. What phone number would you call in an emergency?
     
     
  
  
  
  

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  Scoring Guide:
  
  7 correct = A
  6 correct = B
  5 correct = C
  4 correct = D
  3 or fewer correct =F
  
  Accommodations: Students with decreased physical capacity should be allowed to play this game. Modifications may include but are not limited to the following suggestions. Consult each child's IEP for the best way to accommodate him or her.
  
  Suggestions:
  
  1. Allow additional time to reach the safe spot.
  2. Allow the child to play the game with a buddy/helper.
  3. Decrease the playing area for the affected child.
  4. Allow additional time for the quiz.
  5. Have a moderator read the quiz.
  
  

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  For additional information contact :
  Amy Morrison
  South Elem.
  Holden R-III
  (816) 732-4136
  EMAIL: amorrison@holden.k12.mo.us