Risk Watch: Make Time for Safety

Risk Watch Station Rotation to Safety Graduation
Grades 3-4
by Lois Laurie, St. Paul, MN
2000 "Teacher of the Year" Award Finalist

Objective

As a culminating activity to the Risk Watch program, this activity is designed to help students review and share with younger children what they have learned about making safe choices in risky situations.

Core Subject Integration

Health and safety, math, art

Materials

tag board
pencils
rulers
markers
copies of a Graduation Grid (PDF sample)
copies of a Risk Watch Graduation Certificate (PDF sample)
small stickers or stars (number of stations times the number of younger students)

Procedure Part One - Preparation for the "Safety Stations"

Brainstorm safety messages learned during the program.
List the messages on a chart or chalkboard.
Tell the students that they are each going to design a poster illustrating a safety message.
Drawing students' names at random, have them each choose one of the messages that hasn't already been selected.
When every student has chosen a message, discuss what makes a good poster: Short "to the point" message, good use of space, even lettering (measuring with ruler), correct spelling, vibrant colors, neatness, etc.
Pass out the tag board so that they may begin working on their posters.
Once the posters have been completed, set up a half-hour block of time with a teacher from a primary grade when those younger students (Wing Partners) can attend the "Safety Stations."

Procedure Part Two - Presenting the "Station Rotation to Graduation"

Arrange the students' desks in a circle around the perimeter of the classroom. Each desk will serve as a "Safety Station."
Have each student "teacher" sit at or next to the desk and have his/her poster displayed at the desk. (If desktops stay open, the posters can be taped flat to the desktop, which will allow the student "teacher" to have his/her hands free.)
When the Wing Partners are escorted to their first station, they will be handed a "Graduation Grid" that will already have his/her name on it.
In one-minute intervals, signaled by the teacher, the Wing Partners will rotate from one station to the next.
As the safety message is discussed at each station, and the Wing Partner is able to show an understanding of the message, he/she will receive a small sticker or star to stick on one of the grid squares.
When every station has been visited, the Wing Partners, in addition to having a "Graduation Grid" of stars to keep, he/she will also receive a "Graduation" certificate showing that they have accomplished the task of reviewing safety measures taught in the Risk Watch program.

Expand the lesson!

Have the students display their posters throughout the school so that the entire student body will have reminders of the safety messages that were learned by all involved in the Risk Watch program.

Call the local newspaper to have a reporter and photographer do a feature on the Risk Watch program and this lesson, in particular.

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