Lesson 14.2: Safety in the Community

Overview

This lesson focuses on learning how to be safe in your community, which includes schools, neighborhoods, work place, and public spaces. Tips for staying safe in public that emphasize awareness of surroundings and the people in them, are also discussed.

Learning Targets

  • LO6: Explain three actions schools are taking to be safer and more prepared for dangerous situations.
  • LO7: Discuss three ways to stay safe in a public place.
  • LO8: Analyze why male teens, teens driving with teen passengers, and teens who have just obtained their license are the three groups at the highest risk for a motor vehicle crash.
  • LO9: Identify three ways to stay free of injuries at a job.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the Journal Question on the board or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 14.2 PowerPoint slides or make copies of the Lesson 14.2 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 14.2 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Accessing Safe Transportation Information in Your City or Town.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: Whether it was you driving or being a passenger in a vehicle, have you ever been in an accident or almost in an accident because the person driving was reading or responding to a text? Did it make you rethink your behavior in the situation? For example, if you were driving, has it kept you from using your phone while driving? If you were a passenger, has it made you say something to the person who is driving while checking their phone? Why or why not?
    • Option: Write or project the question and have students respond in their journal or on their “bell ringer” sheet as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 14.2 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 14.2 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quiz and use it alongside a posttest to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Lesson Focus: Accessing Safe Transportation Information

  1. Provide each student with a copy of the Lesson 14.2 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Accessing Safe Transportation Information in Your City or Town.
  2. Students can do this individually or in pairs. Students will need access to the Internet to complete this assignment.
  3. Ask students to share with the class the answers they found for each question.

Challenge Activity

Have students needing an additional challenge work on the following Thinking Critically task.

Do you think teens are more likely to engage in distracted driving? Research information on distracted driving and use it to help you with your answer. Write a paragraph to explain your perspective.

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you...

  • Explain three actions schools are taking to be safer and more prepared for dangerous situations?

    Schools are improving school designs by building hallways with convenient exits that are well lit. They are making office areas centrally located so it is easy to access them from multiple locations in the building. Schools are keeping all outside doors locked so all visitors must enter through one main door, show identification to get in, and wear a visitor badge while in the building.

  • Discuss three ways to stay safe in a public place?

    Be alert for suspicious individuals or vehicles. Avoid walking alone at night. Have your cell phone fully charged and with you. If you feel uncomfortable in a location, leave as quickly as you can.

  • Analyze why male teens, teens driving with teen passengers, and teens who have just obtained their license are the three groups at the highest risk for a motor vehicle crash?

    They are often inexperienced in recognizing dangerous situations, may not wear seatbelts regularly, are often distracted while driving, and tend to speed.

  • Identify three ways to stay free of injuries at a job?

    Make sure to get the proper training to do your job safely, stay alert for potential hazards in your workspace, wear proper safety gear when applicable, use safety equipment properly, and know and follow the safety rules and instructions.

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

Take It Home

Whenever your best friend rides with you, he refuses to wear his seatbelt and constantly tries to show you stuff on his phone. You have repeatedly told him he needs to follow the law and wear his seatbelt and to stop showing you his phone, but he just gets mad and tells you to stop being so uptight. You need help with what to say to him so he will respect your requests instead of getting upset. Talk to a family member or trusted adult about ways in which you can talk to your friend.