LEGO Education

Early Learning Curriculum

Town Set

Table of Contentsbirthday party 2

car safety 4

first day of school 6

keeping public places clean 8

lost in the shopping mall 10

appreciating differences 12

lost kitten 14

safety crossing the street 16

safety in the kitchen 18

safety leaving school 20

swimming pool safety 22

taking turns on the playground 24

4Cs Method of InstructionIn all of our lessons, we follow LEGO Education’s 4Cs method of instruction:

Connect: Give the kids a reason to learn. This is done by telling a story that ends with a problem or challenge that they need to solve.

Construct: Build the scene. Use the LEGO bricks to design and build the scene and solve the problem presented in the Connect phase.

Contemplate: Ask the kids to think about the solution they came up with. Is it the best solution? What would happen if some of the variables changed?

Continue: Build on the kids’ natural curiosity to learn and do more by proposing a different ending to the story in the Connect phase.

Town SetThis is a classic set for helping children push the limits of their imagination by creating a fun urban environment in which to unleash their imaginations.

Key Learning Values

Using imagination and creativityDesigning and making a variety of modelsCommunicating ideas and thoughtsWorking in groups

Understanding different emotionsLearning about safetyAppreciating differencesShowing kindness and empathy

Note to Teacher

The lessons in this curriculum can be presented to 3-6 students at a time. It is left to the teacher’s discretion to decide how easy or difficult to make each lesson depending on the children’s age, comprehension level, and skill. These lessons can be modified to suit children aged 1 1/2 - 5 years.

It might be difficult for young children between 1 1/2 - 3 years to build the scene on their own. However, it is important to keep them as physically engaged as possible, and we suggest that the teacher builds the scene before hand and uses it to tell the ‘Connect’ story. Children can then reenact the story and try to solve the challenge at hand.

Early Learning Solutions from Talents Center and LEGO Education

Itʼs better to give than to receive..Encourage children to think of those in the community that are less fortunate than they are. If they have too many toys, or receive too many toys on their birthday, they could make other children happy by giving them some of their presents.

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LEARNFIND

Lesson 1: Going to a Party

Note to TeacherThis lesson is a good opportunity to encourage good social behavior. You can use this lesson to go over proper behavior at parties, i.e not making too big of a mess, helping clean up before leaving the party, respecting the belongings in the house or location, etc..

You can also encourage children to thank their guests for coming (and for bringing presents), maybe even show gratitude by sending out “Thank You” cards the next day.

Depending on the age and readiness of the students, the questions about moving the cake across the river can be used to introduce children to the terms ʻfloatingʼ and ʻbuoyancyʼ.

They could build a boat, or attach balloons to ʻfloatʼ the cake across the river.

share

work togethercooperate

take turns

ContemplateIs what you built big enough to hold the cake? Is it strong enough to withstand the cakeʼs weight?

Will it be easy or difficult for Reemaʼs mom to get the cake on and off the solution that you built?

What would you do if the cake was smaller? What would you do if the cake was bigger?

If this was a birthday party, whoʼs birthday is it? Whoʼs going to blow the candles? Whoʼs going to open the presents?

What entertainment did you have at your party?

ContinueWhat would you do differently if you had to move the cake across a river?

What would you do if it was an ice cream cake?

It would be nice to send ʻThank Youʼ cards to all the kids that came to your party. What would you say in the card?

Make a ʻthank youʼ card for someone that you care about.

ConnectReema is having a party today and has invited all of her friends. She is really happy and really excited and she was up all night with anticipation. The day before, she helped her mom decorate the living room with red and pink streamers and balloons, her favorite colors. She even helped her mom prepare all the games and activities for the next day. The only thing she didnʼt help with was the cake. Her mom wanted to keep that as a surprise. Reema liked surprises, so she waited patiently for the next day. She had told all of her friends to come to her house by 4:00 in the afternoon but she has been dressed and ready to receive her guests since 12:00. At 4:00, her friends began to arrive and some of them brought presents.

Reema thanked her friends and put her gifts to the side. When everyone had arrived, her mom began the activities. The children were all happy and excited and enjoyed playing the games.

At 6:30 her mom announced that it was almost cake time and everyone should gather around the table. Reemaʼs mom went into the kitchen to get the cake, and as she tried to lift it, she realized she couldnʼt! It was too heavy! What is she going to do? How is she going to bring the cake out to the table where all the children are waiting?

Construct

Can you think of a way to help Reemaʼs mom bring the cake out to the table?

Ask the children to try to avoid looking at accidents when driving past them. They could see blood or people on stretchers or terrible collisions that could leave a disturbing image in their memories. It is human nature to want to see what happened, and when children come to school with questions about what they have seen, try to explain to them as honestly as possible.

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BUILDEXPLORE

Lesson 2 : Car Safety

Note to TeacherCar accidents do happen, and we want to encourage children to be safe in the car at all times.

It is important to emphasize the following guidelines when riding a car:

1. ALWAYS wear your seat belt. The first thing you do when you get into the car is Buckle-Up.

2. ALWAYS sit in the back seat.3. Put your seat belt on and sit down at all

times even in the back seat4. Keep noise down so as not to distract the

person that is driving, be it the father or the driver, i.e keep music volume down, no screaming, no fighting. The person driving

needs to be aware of the sounds outside the car and on the road.

5. Even if your father or driver is driving carefully and safely, you can never predict how other drivers are driving. Always stay safe.

6. Anything else you can think of

What is

‘defensive driving’?

ContemplateWhat would happen if you made the speed bumps too high? too low?

What would happen if the stop signs were not visible?

What happens when police patrols donʼt issue violations to hazardous drivers?

How are you going to drive when youʼre old enough?

Why is it important to follow safety rules on the road?

ContinueTraffic is piling up and there is a traffic jam now. How is the wrecked car going to be moved out of the way so that people on the road can get to work and school on time?An idea: build a tow truck big enough to tow away the wrecked car)

What will happen to the wrecked car after it is towed away?

ConnectSally and Sami woke up early on Saturday morning and began getting ready for school. They washed their faces, got dressed, had their breakfast, brushed their teeth, and hurried out the door to get to school on time. Sally was reading a book in the car while Sami was singing ʻThe Ants Came Marching...ʼ, a song he learned at school the previous week. Sami had just started singing ʻThe Ants came marching six-by-six...ʼ when their father unexpectedly hit the brakes. It was a good thing the kids had their seat belts on (their parents always made sure everyone had their seat belts on even before starting the car. It was their most important rule). Sally and Sami looked at each other, they were both ok, and so was their dad.“Are you alright kids?” their father asked. “I had to hit the brakes like that because there is a car accident in the middle of the road.”

“Weʼre alright dad,” said Sally. “but how did the accident happen?”

“Accidents happen when people are driving too fast, Sally.” said her father. “If something unexpected happens, they canʼt slow down in time to avoid colliding with another car.”

Construct

Can you think of ways to make the roads safer? What can you build or put up to make hazardous drivers slow down?

Some ideas: speed bumps, stop signs, bulletin boards, police patrols.

Encourage the children to talk about how they feel when they are in different places. For example: at the doctorʼs office, at the dentistʼs, at the airport, at a party, when theyʼre visiting their grandparents or other family members, or at the circus.

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EMOTIONSROLE PLAY

Lesson 3 : First Day of School - New Kid, New Friend

Note to TeacherIn this lesson we want to try to encourage empathy and understanding. The first day of school can be overwhelming for new kids. School is a strange place with new people to meet for the very first time. There is so much to take in and get used to without the comfort of familiarity. A new kid will miss his/her mother and his/her home until they realize that their new school is a nice place to be and the day will end and they will go home again. It is important to explain these feelings to the other children in the class and encourage them to be welcoming, caring and thoughtful to the new kid. Sharing toys and taking turns on the playground are also ways to help the new kid feel safe.

Empathythoughtfulnessconsideration

ContemplateCan the children put their belongings in their cubbies without it tipping over? What can we do to make sure that it doesnʼt tip over?

Can the children reach the cubbies? Are any of the cubbies too high? What can we do about cubbies that are too high?

How many kids are in your class? How many compartments would you have to make to have enough cubbies for all the kids in your class?

How was everyone in the story feeling at the beginning of the story? Why do you think Talal was sad?

Do you remember how you felt on the first day of school?

How do you think Talal felt after Sally helped him find his way in the class and invited him to play with her and her friend?

ContinueHow do you think Talal is going to feel the next day?

What else should there be enough of in the class so that Talal can feel welcomed? Can you build enough chairs for all the children in the class?

How should the children treat Talal when they play in the playground? (invite him to play, take turns, share..etc.)

How many cubbies would you need if there were 20 kids in the class?

ConnectItʼs a very busy day at school this morning, because itʼs the first day of school after a long holiday. The teacher, Mrs. Doubtfire, is standing at the door to greet each child as he/she enters the classroom.. “Good morning Sally!, Welcome back! Did you have a good holiday?”. “Yes,” says Sally, “I saw Micky Mouse in Disney Land.” “I canʼt wait to hear all about it,” Says Mrs. Doubtfire. “Please put your belongings in your cubby and get settled, and Iʼll be right over to hear about your trip.” Sallyʼs really excited to see her friends and to start discovering what new items are in the classroom, and quickly puts her things in her cubby. She soon sees her good friend Reema, and they start to play with the LEGO bricks.

Mrs. Doubtfire is still at the door welcoming the children back from the holiday, when a little boy she doesnʼt know comes in. “Hello, young man, you must be Talal. Welcome to our class.” and she gives him big warm smile. But Talal doesnʼt smile back. In fact, he is very sad. “Hello,” he says, in a very quiet voice. Mrs. Doubtfire understands how hard the first day of school can be for some children, and holds Talal by the hand, and takes him into the class.

Sally notices that Mrs. Doubtfire is holding a new boyʼs hand in the class, and quickly runs up to her. “Mrs. Doubtfire, who is this? is he new?”, Sally asks. “Yes, he is,” says Mrs. Doubtfire. Would you like to show him around the class?” “Yes!” says Sally. Sally turns to Talal and says: “Hi, my name is Sally, whatʼs your name?” “Talal”, says Talal, in his quiet voice. Sally smiles at him, “Come with me Iʼll show you where you can put your lunch box in your cubby, and then you can come and play with me and Reema.”

Sally takes Talal towards the cubby, but when she gets there she realizes theyʼre all filled with the other kidsʼ lunch boxes. Thereʼs no room for Talal to put his lunch box.

Construct

Can you build a cubby big enough to hold 6 lunch boxes so that there is room for Talal to put his lunch box?

Introduce the subject of pollution. Show the children pictures of landfills that are taking up space all around the world. There are many simple steps each person can take to decrease pollution, for example: recycle, think twice before using a tissue paper, use paper cups instead of Styrofoam cups, etc... Restoring, or fixing, something before throwing it out is also another form of recycling.

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Lesson 4 : Keeping Public Places Clean

Note to TeacherIn this lesson we want to encourage keeping public places clean, and this includes public parks, eating areas in the mall, amusement parks, public bathrooms, restaurants, schools, theaters, beaches, etc... Encourage children to put trash and paper in trash bins, and not leave them on tables or on the floor. Encourage them also to leave the place they were in clean and tidy, i.e put the chairs back under the table before leaving the eating area, wiping off the table after throwing the trash. Leaving the place they were in clean leaves it ready for someone else to come and enjoy themselves.

Another topic to discuss is recycling; paper, plastic, glass, and tin cans. Talk about sorting

the trash in separate bins. You can also talk about other forms of recycling, for example, using the back side of a paper you are going to throw away for some art work or writing phone numbers down. Or using canvas bags when going to the supermarket to reduce the amount of plastic bags that are thrown out in the trash, or reusing the plastic grocery bags as trash bags at home before throwing them out.

recycle

reuserestore

ContemplateAre the garbage bins big enough to hold more than one trash bag?

At 8:00 pm a garbage truck is going to come to the picnic area and pick up all the trash bags. Can you make a garbage truck big enough to hall all the trash bags.

ContinueWhat if you wanted to encourage people to recycle, how many different types of bins would you need?

Can you make different recycling bins for the picnic area? How will you tell which one is for which type of trash to be recycled?

Does your school have any recycling bins? How about your home?

ConnectSally, Sami, Reema, and Talal all went out for a picnic with their families in the park. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon; the sun was shining, a light breeze was blowing, and the sky was clear and blue. All around the park families had gathered to enjoy the afternoon. Some had laid out mats on the ground. Others were using the park benches and tables. Some had a barbecue going and some were eating homemade sandwiches. On one side of the park was a little playground, and all the children were playing and laughing with glee. On the other side of the park, there was a group of men playing what looked like an exciting game of soccer. A crowd of on-lookers would roar whenever a goal was made. It was a the perfect afternoon.

As the sun began to set, all around the park families began to pack their belongings to leave. The next day was a school day as well as a work day, and everyone had to go home, take their showers and get ready for bed.

Sally, Sami, Reema and Talal all ran to the car to leave, but Sallyʼs dad called back to them: “Kids, arenʼt you forgetting something?”. What could they have forgotten? They had packed their toys, and they all had their socks and shoes on. What could they have missed? “Please come back and help us pick up the trash. We canʼt leave our garbage on the ground.” The children quickly ran back to the picnic sight and began putting the trash into large garbage bags. But when they were done, there was no where to put the garbage bags. They couldnʼt just leave the bags on the ground.

Construct

Can you construct garbage bins to put all around the picnic area so that the children and all the other families have somewhere to put their trash bags?

It is a good idea to encourage the children to memorize their mother and fatherʼs telephone numbers. They might need to recall these too. This can be a good exercise/homework to do with the children in the class: Memorize your motherʼs telephone number.

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itySUPPORTEMPATHY

Lesson 5 : Lost in the Shopping MallNote to TeacherThis lesson is about what a child should do when he/she is lost. In this case, the child walked away and did not realize he had lost his family, and therefore he had to look for a security guard. In other cases, it might be a good idea for the child to just stay put. Parents will normally retrace their steps to all the locations they had been to and will surely find the lost child if he/she stays in his/her place. You should talk to the kids about all the possible situations.

It is also important to remind the kids not to panic in a situation like this, meaning to stay calm and not cry. They will need to stay calm to ask for help. They will need to be able to communicate clearly. The security guard will

ask them for their full name. The security guard will need to understand them when they speak.

Encourage children to stay close to their families when they are in public places and not to stray. Encourage them to be weary of strangers, and that it is always best to ask the help of a security guard than a stranger.

Stay together.

Stay safe.

ContemplateIs the car you built safe so that the passengers donʼt fall out. Is there anything for them to hold on to?

How fast or slow should that car go in the mall?

What should Sami learn from this experience? Was he right to look for a security guard? Should he have spoken to anyone else?

ContinueCan you think of a way to reach Samiʼs balloon that got stuck between the trees?

Connect

Every Thursday morning, Sami and his sister Sally go with their parents to the shopping mall. They do a little shopping, then play in the play area and buy a balloon. And just before they leave, they all sit down for a cup of freshly squeezed juice and talk about their friends and what they did in school.

One Thursday morning though, after Sami had bought his balloon, and he was walking behind his sister and his parents, his balloon got loose, and started to drift up and away. Surprised with what happened he started chasing his balloon until it got stuck in between two trees beside the coffee shop. It was too high for him to reach, even after trying several times to jump up and catch the string attached to it. He turned around to ask his dad for help, but to his surprise, his dad was nowhere around him! Sami realized he was lost.

He almost started to cry when he remembered that his mother had told him what to do in a situation like this: “Stay calm, donʼt panic, donʼt cry, and think. Look for a security guard and tell him to help you.” It was very hard for Sami not to cry, but he stayed brave, thought again about his motherʼs words, and walked slowly along until he found a security guard. He went up to him, and gently patted his arm and said: “Excuse me Sir, Iʼm lost. Can you please help me find my mommy?”.

The security guard knelt down and smiled a reassuring smile at Sami: “Yes, of course Iʼll help you. What is your name?” Sami very clearly said: “Sami.” “Ok, Sami, do you know your mommyʼs telephone number?” “No, I donʼt”, said Sami. “Thatʼs alright,” said the security guard. “Come with me and weʼll go to the mallʼs front reception. We can page your mom from there.”

ConstructCan you think of way to get the security guard and Sami to the mallʼs reception as fast as possible?

Talk to the children about the different people you know from around the world and ask them if they know anyone who looks or speaks differently than they do. Use a globe to point out where different countries are around the world.

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APPRECIATEUNDERSTANDRESPECT

Lesson 6 : Appreciating Differences

Note to TeacherIn this lesson, try to emphasize the importance of appreciating other peopleʼs cultures and appreciating their differences:1. Having different origins and coming from a

different country or background is interesting.

2. Speaking a different language is interesting and cool.

3. Having different color of skin, different facial features, and different hair color and texture is interesting.

Ask the children about their parents; are they both from the same country or are they from different countries? Emphasize that we are all different and each person is unique and special in his/her own way.

Being

Different

is Cool!

ContemplateIs the garage you built big enough for the car?

What if the neighbor bought a second car? Where would he park it?

Can you build a garage big enough for 2 cars?

Why was the neighborʼs English not very good?

Do you think he speaks his native language better?

Where could the new neighbor have come from? What language would he have spoken?

How many languages do you know how to speak? Can you speak them fluently?

ContinueWhat if there was no room to build a garage enough for 2 cars, where else can you add space to make a garage? (double deck garage..or somewhere else around the house)

Learn to say “hello” in other languages.

Other than language, what other characteristics make people different? (facial features, color of skin, hair texture and color, height, etc... )

ConnectSally and Sami were sitting in the backseat of their car looking out at the stars. It was a quiet evening and their father had just picked them up from their afternoon classes. Sally was taking ballet (she loved wearing her tutu) and Sami was taking Karate (he had just mastered his first kata). They were very tired and could barely think of anything other than their hungry stomaches. Mom had promised to make them spaghetti and meatballs for dinner that night. It was their favorite.

As their father was trying to pull up into their garage, he slowly stopped the car just outside the driveway instead. “That is strange,” thought Sally. “Why didnʼt you stop the car in the garage daddy?” she asked. “It looks like our new neighbor parked his car in our driveway,” said Sallyʼs dad. “Wait here kids, Iʼll go talk to him.”

Sallyʼs dad walked up to their neighborʼs house and politely rang the door bell. A man came to the door and he and Sallyʼs father shook hands and then began to talk quietly, then shook hands again.

A few moments later, Sallyʼs father came back to the car and said:” Just a slight misunderstanding kids. That man and his family are new in the city and theyʼre still having problems with their maintenance. Their garage door opener isnʼt working and he couldnʼt find anywhere else to park other than our driveway. He apologized politely and is going to move his car now. It was a little difficult to understand what he was trying to say because his English isnʼt very good, but I tried really hard to understand what he was trying to say. Anyway, Sami I think I saw a little boy about your age inside.”

Construct

Can you help build a garage for the new neighbor so he can have somewhere to park next time?

Talk about ways to show gratitude and thanks to someone who has helped you. A card, a gift, a basket of fruit, or some home cooked muffins are all nice ways of showing others you appreciate them and care.

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FANTASYIMAGINE

Lesson 7 : Lost Kitten

Note to TeacherThis lesson is about teaching children empathy and learning to watch for other peopleʼs feelings. It is also about recognizing when someone needs help. It is about lending a helping hand, and being a good friend or neighbor.

Encourage your students to think of times when they needed help and someone came to their aid. Ask them if they have ever helped someone in need of assistance. Ask them to talk about their feelings.

friendliness

empathy

support

community

feelings

ContemplateCan Sally and Reema climb up without falling down? Can you make it safer for them? Have you made your construction tall enough to reach Fluffy? Can they climb up and down the same way?

How do you think Fluffy got into Reemaʼs yard in the first place? Can you think of something to build to stop him from leaving Sallyʼs yard again?

How was everyone in the story (Sally, Reema, and Fluffy) feeling before you built the steps? After you built the steps?

Do you think Reema was a friendly neighbor to Sally? Why?

What do you think Sally said to Reema after she helped her find Fluffy? Do you think Sally would help Reema if Reema ever needed Sallyʼs help? Why?

ContinueCan you build steps of different heights? What can they be used for? Can you put them in order from the shortest to the tallest?

If your neighbor helped you find your lost cat, what would you do to show your appreciation?

ConnectItʼs a beautiful Thursday morning, the birds are singing and the sun is shining and Sally is playing with her pet kitten Fluffy in the living room. Theyʼre playing with a piece of yarn and it makes Sally so happy to see her kitten jumping up and down as she drags the yarn across the floor. Mom tells Sally that since itʼs such a beautiful day, she should take Fluffy outside to the yard. Sally is so happy because her favorite thing in the world is to sit on the grass and play in the shade. She goes to get her shoes so she and Fluffy can enjoy the beautiful day.

After she puts her shoes on she starts to look for Fluffy, but she canʼt find him anywhere. She looks under tables, and couches, and even in his favorite napping corner at the foot of the stairs, but he isnʼt inside the house. Has he already gone outside?

Sally goes into the yard and starts calling out: “Fluffyyyyyy... Fluffyyyyyy...”, but Fluffy doesnʼt come back. As she is about to give up, her neighbor Reema sees how sad she is and says: Whatʼs wrong Sally? Sally tells Reema she canʼt find her kitten Fluffy. Reema gives her a reassuring smile and tells her not to worry, and that she will help her look for Fluffy..

Sally immediately relaxes and sets out with Reema to find Fluffy. Sure enough as they are looking in the yard again, Sally hears a soft and far ʻmeowʼ! Itʼs Fluffy! but where is he? Sally and Reema keep quiet and listen to the sound again.. It is coming from Reemaʼs yard!!. They both quickly run over to Reemaʼs house and go to her yard. They can hear the ʻmeowʼ getting louder, but they still canʼt see that cat! Where is he?! Reema suddenly looks up and says: There he is!! That silly cat has climbed the tree in her yard! They can see him clearly now, sitting between the branches. Sally starts jumping with joy. She has found her cat. “Come down Fluffy.. donʼt be scared.. Iʼll catch you”, Sally says. But Fluffy doesnʼt move a muscle. He is afraid to come down by himself.

Construct

Can you design and build a way to reach the kitten up in the tree using the LEGO bricks?

Role play..Practice crossing the street in your own class. Assign some children to be cars speeding across the room, while others practice crossing ʻthe streetʼ. Get creative and design car costumes for the activity.

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DESIGNBUILD

Lesson 8: Safety Crossing the Street

Note to TeacherThis lesson is a good opportunity to talk about safety crossing the street. Here are some rules to follow:1. Always look for a pedestrian crossing to

cross the street.2. Look for pedestrian bridges when crossing

a highway.3. You should never try to cross the street

without holding a grownupʼs hand.4. Always look left, right, and left again before

crossing.5. Walk, donʼt run when crossing the street.6. Never run into the street chasing a ball, or

trying to run away from your friends, siblings or parents. Even if you are just playing or joking around.

7. Anything else you can think of...

Not many drivers are safe drivers, and even if they were safe drivers and they were not speeding, something unexpected like a child running into the street is not something they have on their minds. Children need to be careful and aware of their surroundings as much as possible.

Always remember:

Safety comes first!

ContemplateIs the pedestrian bridge you built safe? How can you make it safer?Is it sturdy? Will it topple over?

What is the correct way to cross the street?

Continue

Consider the situation again, but this time, instead of cars driving in the streets you have an animal circus in the street. How high should you make the pedestrian bridge to make sure the circus animals can still pass from underneath?

The giraffe, the elephant and the tiger are running loose and out of control. Can you build trailers to suit each animal that will contain them and prevent them from harming anyone?

ConnectOn a crisp winter afternoon, Sally, Sami, and their mom set out to the mall to buy some new winter boots. They had outgrown the ones from last year, and it was time for some new ones. Since it was the weekend, the roads were very crowded and so was the mall parking lot. They couldnʼt find a single parking space to park in. After nearly 30 minutes of scoping the parking lot, their mom decided that it would be easier and it would save them a lot of time if they just parked across the street from the mall, and walk to the entrance. So thatʼs what they did.

After locking the car and taking hold of each of Sally and Samiʼs hands, their mother waited patiently for the traffic to slow down a little so that they could cross the street. Unfortunately it was a very busy afternoon, and there werenʼt any safe opportunities to cross the street. It was getting late, and it was starting to look like they were going to spend the whole afternoon looking right and left, and breathing car fumes.

Construct

Can you think of way to help Sally, Sami and their mother cross the street and get to the mall?

Another important topic is safety with Microwaves: Items that can be put in a microwave are glass, ceramics, and microwave safe dishes. Items that can not be put in a microwave oven are paper (it can catch fire), metal (it will cause a spark), plastic wrap (it will melt), plastic (it will melt and chemical components get loose and get into your food), tin foil (will spark), cans (will spark), spoons or forks or knives (will spark), and pets (they will die). Also, liquids (like milk or water) that are heated in the microwave can be very hot and might “explode” after taking them out of the microwave.

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FANTASYIMAGINE

Lesson 9: Safety in the Kitchen

Note to TeacherIn this lesson we have the opportunity to talk about all kinds of safety measures to take in the kitchen:1. There should be enough light in the kitchen

at all times.2. The floors should be clean and dry.3. Stay clear of hot stoves and ovens.4. Safety with steam - Steam is hot, it can

burn. Donʼt bring your face close to it or put your hand over it.

5. Knives should be sharp. Dull knives can be very dangerous.

6. Always have an adult with you if youʼre planning to cook in the kitchen.

7. Safety with electric outlets in the kitchen. Hands and appliances should be completely dry.

8. Kitchen appliances should only be operated by adults.

9. Damaged appliances and utensils should not be kept.

10. Only professional maintenance people should try to fix any appliances that are broken.

11. Safety when reaching for items on a shelf12. Do not try to climb up a counter. Ask for

help13. Do not try to hide in the refrigerator. It is

very dangerous because there is very little air inside.

14. No chemical cleaners should be stored in kitchen cabinets, especially if there are babies and toddlers in the house. They are poisonous.

ContemplateAre the solutions you came up with safe?How can you make sure the ladder is safe to climb up?

How else can you be safe in the kitchen?

What are some things that only an adult should do in the kitchen? What are some things you can do with supervision?

ContinueThe banana bread batter is ready to be cooked, can you build an oven to cook it in?

The following week, Reema and Sally made cookies with Sallyʼs mom. Can you build a cookie jar to hold 12 cookies and to put on the kitchen shelf?

What should Sally and Reema do if they want a cookie?

ConnectReema and Sally were in Sallyʼs kitchen helping her mom make some banana bread. The girls loved banana bread. It was healthy, and filling, and the perfect snack for the afternoon. Sallyʼs mom had a recipe book out and the girls were following the directions step by step so as not to get anything wrong.

Everything was easy enough to follow; measure and poor into the bowl. Mix well. The last ingredient to add was the bananas. They needed three big, ripe bananas. The directions said to slice the bananas first and then mash them.

“Mom, can you please help me slice the bananas with the knife?”, asked Sally.“Sure,” said her mom, and she took out a cutting board and a knife, and started peeling the bananas. She started to slice them, when she suddenly let out a cry: “Ouch!!”

“What happened?,”asked Sally. “Are you ok?”“Yes, Iʼm alright, I just cut my finger a little bit. The problem is these lights. Theyʼre not bright enough and I can hardly see what Iʼm doing.”

Construct

Can you think of ways to bring more light into the kitchen?

Ideas:

Change the light bulbs- build a ladder to be able to reach the bulbs.

Knock down some walls and rebuild them with windows to let in more natural light.

Remind kids that although there are so many rules for everything, rules are made to keep kids safe.More ideas

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COMMUNICATECONNECT

Lesson 10 : Safety Leaving School

Note to TeacherIn many schools, the entrance/exit to the school is directly on the main street. This can be very dangerous, as children sometimes run out of the school to greet their parents, or the nanny or driver. Often, even if the person picking the child up does come into the school to pick them up, the child will let go of the adultʼs hand and run off to the car.

It is important to educate children about safety precautions when leaving school gates. Have them be aware that there are some cars outside that are passing the school and not picking up children. These cars may not slow down, and will just speed past the school.

Also because they are children, they are not very tall. They will not appear in a driverʼs rearview

mirror. If the child is walking behind that car he/she can easily be hurt.

Talk to the children about ways to make the area around the school safe, such as providing a no parking zone in front of the entrance, and also providing a barrier in front of the school to force running children to stop and slow down. Another way to make the streets around the school safe is to have high speed bumps that force cars to stop. If speed bumps are too low, cars will not stop and will just speed over them.

Remind the children to hold on to an adultʼs hand at all times when leaving the school and until they get into their cars.

ContemplateAre the stop signs and school crossing signs you assembled clear and visible?

How high should the speed bumps be to make sure the cars slow down?

What can be an example of safe behavior when leaving school gates?

ContinueIn many parts around the world, children take school busses to and from school. Can you build a school bus to take Sami and Talal home.

Why is it that busses tend to drive slower than cars on the road?

What can be some examples of safe behavior on the bus?

ConnectEvery afternoon as the children are leaving school, they become very excited to see their mom or their dad coming to pick them up. Talal and Sami in particular always have an unspoken competition going on to see whoʼs going to leave first. On Tuesday afternoon however, their teacher, Mrs. Doubtfire came and told Sami and Talal that both their fathers were at the door.

Sami rushed to his cubby to get his lunch box, and Talal wasnʼt too far behind. They ran out the door almost knocking each other over. “Slow down boys!”, said Mrs. Doubtfire, but they didnʼt hear her. They were already out the door. When they got to the school gates, Talal was in the lead when Mr. Grover, the school guard, stopped them both.“Slow down young men, donʼt you know that what youʼre doing is very dangerous? There are lots of cars outside, and not all drivers are responsible drivers. Iʼd like you both to go back inside and demonstrate to me the proper way to leave school”

Construct

Can you think of ways to make the streets around the school safer for children coming in and out of the school?

You can take this lesson one step further and talk about safety at the beach. Most of the above rules apply, but itʼs also important to mention how water current can make you drift farther out than you might think, and itʼs hard to swim against the tide. Mention that it is important to wear protective shoes to protect your feet from sharp shells or rocks or maybe even glass that is in the sand, and itʼs very important to get out of the water as soon as it gets dark. Also, never swim unless there is a lifeguard on duty, and make sure you can see your parents at all times.

More ideas

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Lesson 11 : Swimming Pool Safety

Note to TeacherIn this lesson we have the opportunity to address safety rules in and around the pool. Remind the kids that rules are made to keep kids safe. Here are some points to go over:1. No roughhousing in or around the pool.2. No pushing, someone can bump their head

against the edge.3. Always swim with adult supervision, and

that adult should know how to swim.4. If you donʼt know how to swim, you

shouldnʼt be in the pool without an adult with you in the pool.

5. No running around the pool. You could slip and fall.

6. Always wear non-skid slippers or shoes around the pool.

7. Doors to a pool in the house should always be locked, especially if there is a infant or toddler (little children) in the house.

8. Never jump in and try to hold on to the edge of the pool at the same time.

9. Jump in only in deep areas.10. Itʼs time to leave the pool as soon as it

starts getting dark.11.Itʼs important to drink plenty of water and

use sunscreen.12.Anything else you can think of...

Always remember:

Safety comes first!

ContemplateWhat can you do to make it easier to transport the water? (attach wheels to the transport device)

What can you do save time filling the swimming pool back up? (build a bigger device that holds more water, or use a hose)

What does it mean to swim safely? What would be examples of children not being safe in and around the pool?

ContinueIf the pool had a deep end and a shallow end, how many ways can you think of to get to the deep end? (build a ladder to climb down, swim to it, jump in)

How much water do you think will be lost if an elephant jumps into the pool? Why?

What kind of rules would you have if the children were swimming on the beach and not the pool?

ConnectSchool is out and summer is in! Sally, Sami, Reema, and Talal are so excited itʼs the last day of school, because that means itʼs the first day of summer! Theyʼve been busy planning all the activities they were going to do once summer started; they were going to be at one of their houses everyday, they were going to make an album to document all their adventures, they were going to ride their bikes, watch movies, and go swimming. On the very first day of summer, they decided to go over to Talalʼs house since he had a pool in the yard. They were having a blast making cannon balls, racing from one end of the pool to the other, and playing Marco-Polo.

After a couple of hours they got out of the pool to have lunch. They put on their flip-flops, and walked carefully inside to eat. After lunch, they were sitting beside the pool having their popsicles when Reema noticed that the water level in the pool had gone down. “That doesnʼt look right to me,” she said.“Youʼre right,” Talal said. “The water level has gone down, I wonder why.”“I think I know what the problem is,” said Sami. “Weʼve been jumping and diving and making so many cannon balls that we splashed a lot of water outside the pool.”“Hey, look!” said Talal, “thereʼs a water tap over there by the back door.”

Construct

What can you do about the low water level? Can you think of a way to transport water from the tap to the pool and bring the water level back up?

There are lots of times in real-life when we have to take turns, for example when waiting in line at the grocery store. It is not polite to cut in line or squeeze someone out of their spot. Where else do you have to wait for your turn? (At an airport check-in counter, at a bank, hospital check-in counter...)

More ideas

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POSSIBILITIES

Lesson 12 : Taking Turns on the Playground

Note to TeacherThis lessonʼs objectives are to remind children of safety on the play ground. Some things to mention are:

1. Take turns always.2. Avoid pushing and shoving when waiting

your turn. 3. Avoid pushing and shoving when going up

the steps to a slide.4. Keep the sandbox clean.5. Tell an adult if you find glass or sharp

objects on the playground or if you see something that looks broken or bent.

6. Safety on the swings: make sure not to walk in front of someone that is being pushed on a swing, warn the person if you see them about to walk or run in front of a

swing, and do not push an empty swing. Always hold on tight when being pushed on a swing.

7. If you are going to ride your bike around the playground make sure it is in the designated area.

8. Remember that playing in the playground is supposed to be fun for everyone. Always share.

9. Anything else you can think of...

When you take turns everyone

gets to share the fun!

ContemplateAre the steps to the slide safe enough? How can we make them safer? (make them wider)

How safe is the playground in your school or park? Can you think of ways that it is safe, and ways to make it safer?

Why do you think Talal was angry? Did he have a right to be angry? Did he intentionally push Sami? What do you think of his reaction? Should he have pushed Sami, or controlled his anger? What should he have said to Sami?

ContinueThe weather is usually very hot in our country. Can you think of something to build so that the kids can continue to play in the play ground?

Is the shading you built sturdy and safe enough so that it doesnʼt topple over?

It is very important to drink lots of water when the weather is hot to avoid dehydration, and getting dizzy while you play. Can you think of something to build so that the children have access to nice fresh water as they play? (water cooler, pond, sink, etc... )

ConnectIt was a beautiful morning.. the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and there was a light cool breeze, that told everyone that Fall was here. The children were playing in the playground. Some were playing on the swings, others were hanging from the monkey bars, a small group was playing tag, and there were a lot of children playing on the slide. The mothers were sitting on the benches, chatting among themselves. Others were reading a book in the shade, waiting for their children as they played. Everything was going smoothly until, all of a sudden, there was a loud cry from over by the playground. All the mothers looked up, to see who was crying, and a couple of them ran over to where the child was crying, right next to the slide.

As it turned out, it was Sami that was crying. He had fallen off the steps up to the slide. He was holding his arm in agony. As his mother examined his arm, she found he only had a little scratch and a little bruise. “Youʼre going to be just fine, sweetheart. Letʼs get this cut cleaned up so you can go back to playing with your friends,” said his mother. “But I donʼt want to play with them anymore,” Sami said with tears in his eyes. “Talal pushed me!””

“I didnʼt push him!”, said Talal angrily. “He got in the way!”

Samiʼs mom looked him straight in the eye and asked him “Didnʼt you wait your turn before trying to go up the steps?”

Construct

Can you think of a way to make the steps to the slide safer, so that children donʼt fall off the steps again?

Can you build another slide so that on days when there are lots of children in the playground, children donʼt have to wait too long to get a turn on the slide?

National Talents Company for Training and Education

P.O. Box 30082

Alkhobar 31952

Saudi Arabia

Tel 920006882 Fax 03-898 3578