Playground Safety
Grades 1-2

By Amy Hein
2004 Teacher of the Year  

Play It Safe on the Playground

Objectives:
*Learn about safety measures that should be taken in all playgrounds.
*Provide an opportunity for students to survey their own playground for risks
*Collect data and identify possible risk areas.
*Analyze data and create ways to share the information with the school and community.
*Decrease the number of playground injuries

Core Subject Integration: Language Arts, Mathematics

Multiple Intelligence Correlation: Logical, Kinesthetic, Naturalist, Interpersonal

Materials: Falls Prevention Survey, Clipboards, Rulers, Stationery, Art Supplies, Envelopes

Learning Challenge: (can be in the form of a letter from the principal)

Dear Risk Watchers,

You have been chosen to assist me in making the school playground a safer place to be. I need you to find out if our playground is safe and what needs to be done to help the students of Hickory Bend know how to “play it safe”. Good luck with your adventure! The Principal

Preparation:
*Teacher: Preview the information on the National Program for Playground Safety Web site, especially the Playground Inspection Guide - to provide yourself with some background information that will help guide the lesson! Also, arrange for the school nurse to visit your classroom to report about injuries that happen at your school during this lesson!

Procedure:
* Have the students review falls prevention rules on the Risk Watch Web site.

*Activate Prior Knowledge: Ask students if they have ever been hurt on the playground. Lead the discussion to include the nurse and her role in injury prevention. Have the nurse make a visit and report on the school’s playground injury statistics.

*Discuss the findings from the Internet and information gained from the nurse and decide on ways to assess if the playground is safe! Create a survey with student ideas or use the pre-made Playground Survey, make sure to discuss all questions first, so students understand what is being asked and what actions must be taken to find the answers.

*Group the students in teams of 3-4 and discuss their responsibilities (i.e., leader, detective, scribe, and measurement person), hand out surveys, clipboards, rulers, etc.

*Take the students on the playground to complete the surveys, and write down any observations.

*Lead a class discussion on specific findings and create a large chart for all observations. The students should be allowed to decide on what action should be taken. Each team should have a choice to promote ownership of the activity.

Possible Activities:
- write letters to the mayor or superintendent discussing the playground environment and possible changes that should be made to promote safety; students should locate addresses and write out all envelopes
- create a large playground map with potential risk areas highlighted to be hung in a central location to promote awareness
- compose playground rules on a large poster and invite the principal to adopt the rules into actual school policy
- create a playground role play to be shared with other classes
- create Risk Watch monitors to assist playground supervisors at all times
- create “Tie Your Shoes” posters to be hung by exterior doors to act as a reminder before students exit the building
- write “Play it Safe” announcements to be read on the daily announcements
-create a form to record all playground injuries, check the list periodically to talk with involved students/grade levels, hand out “Play it Safe” certificates to the class with the least injuries at the end of the year
- create a brochure describing proper playground behaviors to be copied and distributed to all students
- hold a playground safety assembly to go over rules and consequences
- invite all classes to participate in a “Play it Safe” poster making contest, ask the local grocery store to donate popsicles to give as a reward to the winning class that can be enjoyed during a special time on the playground

Extension Activities:
*Assess the safety of at home play areas – contact the local home improvement store to donate materials if needed!
*Check the surrounding playground area for other risks, such as: matches, trash, sharp items, etc.
*Travel to a community park to assess the safety of the area; contact the Park District, if needed.

Playground Safety Survey

1. Is there always a grown-up outside when students are on the playground?

2. Are there written playground rules that must be followed?

3. Is the mulch at least 12 inches deep on the playground?

4. How do you know?

5. Is the playground area clean?

6. Are there any sharp edges on the equipment?

7. Is all the equipment in good condition?

8. What do we need to do to make the playground safer?