Purpose: To acquaint students with the role of the police officer in the classroom and to review safety practices to protect students from harm to and from school, at school, at home, and in the community.

Objective: Students will be able to make safe choices when confronted with situations which may cause them harm.

Procedure: 

1. Explain to the class that the police and the schools are working together to help students learn how to protect themselves by making safe choices.

2. Talk to the students about what it means to be safe, and why they feel safe at a place like school. 

3. Write the word "rule" on the chalkboard and ask students to describe a rule. Define it as "a statement of what to do or of what not to do."

4. Lead a discussion on rules by asking questions such as:

Why do we have rules at school?
Why do we have rules at home?
What is one rule at school?
Why does the school have this rule?

5. Tell the class that laws are rules that are made to protect the rights of the people. Conduct a discussion to elicit responses to the following questions:

Why do people make laws?
What would happen if there were no laws?
Why do we have police?
When are police usually called?

6. Talk about and define the word victim. A victim is "someone who is hurt, tricked, or treated in the wrong way." Tell the class that an important way NOT to become a victim is to learn what to do to avoid dangerous situations. Knowing how to act and react is very important.

7. Write the words KNOW, SAY NO, GO, and TELL on the chalkboard. Explain to students that these are the four steps in saying no to unsafe situations. Give the following example situation:

"You are walking down the street, and someone in a car pulls up beside you and asks you to come inside the car to help look for a lost dog." Tell the students the four important steps for saying no.

• Step 1: Know-recognize this is a dangerous situation. Always be aware of what is going on around you.

• Step 2: Say No-say no in a loud, clear voice.

• Step 3: Go-get away as quickly as possible in the opposite direction of the car. Find a safe place.

• Step 4: Tell-tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult immediately. Try to remember what the person looked like and the license plate of the car. 

Role-play the situation with students to demonstrate the four steps to say no and how to summon help. Emphasize the importance of giving necessary information when seeking help. 

8. Summarize the lesson by brainstorming with students about safety measures to use to avoid dangerous situations. Examples of important rules students can follow are:

• Always use the buddy system

• Never stay out after dark unless you are with an adult

• Avoid dangerous places

• Never talk to strangers

This lesson used with permission from DARE Officer Ed Barragan