National Safe Schools Framework F-1

Safe Schools

Student activities

Activity 1

Best buddies

Buddies help us to feel safe and happy and give us the chance to make new friends. What is the best thing about having a buddy?

Get ready

You’ll need:

Activity Steps

Step 1

Look at the photos in the Buddies gallery. What are the buddies doing together? How do the older buddies help the younger buddies?

Step 2

Think about your buddy. What do you like about your buddy and how they make you feel?

Step 3

Sit together in a circle and share with your class the photo of you with your buddy. Introduce your buddy in the photo to the class. Tell the class either one thing about your buddy or something you enjoy doing with your buddy in the classroom or in the playground, and how this makes you feel safe.

Step 4

Watch the video of students talking about why having a buddy is so special. What did the video show you about buddies and how they make us feel safe and happy?

Step 5

Glue the photo of you and your buddy in the centre of the My buddy handout.

Step 6

In each of the shapes around the photo, draw or write things you like to do with your buddy and examples of how your buddy is special.

Resources and Links

Buddy bear game

Activity 2

Playground Detectives

In our playground we can play with friends and make new ones. Rules for getting along with others help everyone to feel safe, respected and happy.

Who do you like to play with in the playground?

Get ready

You’ll need:

  • Digital Camera

Activity Steps

Step 1

Share the things you enjoy doing in the playground as well as times when you may feel alone or unhappy.

Step 2

Watch the video of students talking about the things they like to do in the playground and ways of meeting new friends.

Step 3

Take a class walk around your school’s playground.

Step 4

As you walk around the playground, think about the different areas of the playground and the activities that you can do in each area:

  • Play equipment area
  • Eating zone
  • Place for meeting new friends
  • Group games area
  • Partner games area
  • Individual play area
  • Quiet activities area
Step 5

It’s now time for your teacher to take some photos of the playground. Give your teacher some ideas of photos to take.

Step 6

Return to your classroom and share the photos of different areas of the playground.

Step 7

Think about the rules for each area of the playground. How are these rules different for each area?

Step 8

Usually there are safety rules, behaviour rules and rules for getting along with others. Think about which one of these types each rule belongs to.

Step 9

Create a list of rules for getting along with others in the playground. Think about the school rules and create some of your own.

Step 10

As a class, decide on the top five rules from your list, and then write them on a poster and display it in your classroom.

Step 11

Think about and share one thing you can do on the playground to get along better with others.

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