Safe Choices Activity

Overview

This 20-minute lesson engages Year 1 students in a child protection themed health activity designed for Early Stage 1 (ES1) in New South Wales. Using hands-on cut-and-paste tasks, students will learn to identify and apply simple protective behaviours in situations that keep them safe, aligned to the NSW Personal and Community Health curriculum outcomes.

Curriculum Alignment

• Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
• Stage: Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten - Year 1)
• Content Focus: Personal and Community Health
• NSW Syllabus Outcomes:
  • PCHES1.1 Recognise and describe personal qualities and strengths
  • PCHES1.3 Apply strategies and skills to keep safe and healthy
• Achievement Standard:
  By the end of Year 2, students apply protective behaviours and help-seeking strategies to keep themselves and others safe

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand basic protective behaviours (e.g., knowing safe adults, recognising unsafe situations)
• Identify trusted adults they can go to for help
• Demonstrate simple help-seeking strategies through interactive activities
• Build awareness of body safety and personal boundaries suitable for their age

Resources

• Pre-prepared cut-out pictures illustrating: safe adults (police officer, teacher, parent), unsafe situations (stranger reaching out), safe and unsafe actions (saying “No”, running away, telling an adult)
• Large poster board with three columns labeled: "Safe People," "Safe Actions," and "Tell Someone"
• Glue sticks, scissors, crayons/markers
• Story prompt related to safety (short, simple scenario tailored to Year 1)

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Lesson Procedure

1. Introduction and Discussion (5 minutes)

• Start with a simple story about a child who meets different people and encounters various situations.
• Ask students: Who are people you can trust? What can you do if you feel unsafe?
• Explain that today, they'll learn about "safe choices" to help keep themselves safe.

2. Cut and Paste Activity - Sorting Safe Choices (10 minutes)

• Give each student a set of cut-out pictures and a glue stick.
• Display the poster board with three sections labelled “Safe People”, “Safe Actions”, and “Tell Someone”.
• Read aloud a brief scenario and ask students to choose pictures that match the category. For example:
  • Scenario: "If a stranger tries to talk to you, what should you do?" → Students paste pictures under “Tell Someone” and “Safe Actions” (e.g., say “No”, find a trusted adult).
• Guide the students gently, helping them understand why each choice is safe.
• Encourage discussion as they work, reinforcing their understanding of protective behaviours.

3. Recap and Reinforcement (5 minutes)

• Review the pictures on the poster board together.
• Ask students to share who their safe people are and what they can do if they feel unsafe.
• Reinforce that it's always okay to say “No” and tell someone they trust.

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Assessment & Reflection

• Informal assessment through observation of student participation:
  • Can students correctly sort examples into safe/unsafe categories?
  • Are they able to identify trusted adults and safe behaviours?
• Teacher notes anecdotal observations for understanding and comfort with the topic.
• Encourage students to share one safe choice or trusted person as a closing reflection.

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Differentiation

• For students needing additional support, simplify scenarios or provide one-on-one assistance with the cut and paste task.
• Enrich for advanced students by introducing simple role-play after the cut-paste to practise saying “No” and seeking help.

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Extensions and Home Connections

• Send home a simple “Safe People” worksheet for students to identify their trusted adults at home.
• Suggest parents/caregivers discuss the importance of body safety and trusted helpers with their child using everyday language.

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By incorporating tactile, visual, and verbal learning modes appropriate for 5–6-year-olds, this lesson supports NSW curriculum goals while empowering young students with foundational child protection knowledge and skills in a safe, engaging environment. This approach brings the curriculum to life in a hands-on, memorable way that impresses teachers seeking effective, age-appropriate protective behaviour teaching options.