Safety Squad Slides
Grade 5 Safety & Law Awareness
30-Minute Mission
Safety Squad Academy
Decoding harmful, threatening, and violent behavior—and learning how every fifth grader has the power to recognize, prevent, and protect.
What the Law Says
Teasing vs. Bullying vs. Threats
Student Action Blueprint
Mission 1: Know the Line Safe Schools Initiative
Mission Briefing
Part 1 • Safety Mindset
Why does our state define harmful behavior by law?
Everyone Has the Right to Feel Safe
School is a sanctuary for learning, friendships, and growth. When anyone feels in danger, learning stops.
Clear Rules Prevent Real Harm
The legal definition is clear: some actions are not just "accidents" or "jokes"—they are serious legal violations.
Today, we examine the three official categories defined by the state safety code.
1 Legal Category One
Words Have Consequences
Verbal, Written & Self-Harm Threats
Any communication that promises to hurt someone else or hurt oneself.
Spoken Threats
Saying "I'm going to get you after school" or "Watch what happens to you."
Written or Digital Notes
Texts, group chat DMs, gaming messages, or notes left on desks warning of harm.
Threats of Self-Harm
Statements about wanting to disappear, hurt oneself, or not wake up. Needs immediate adult care!
Key Legal Truth: Claiming "I was just joking" does not erase a threat in the eyes of the law.
2 Legal Category Two
Pattern & Physical Force
Bullying, Cyberbullying, Fighting & Assault
Behavior intended to intimidate, humiliate, overpower, or physically injure another student.
Bullying & Cyberbullying
- • Repeated targeting using power or social exclusion.
- • Online harassment, posting embarrassing photos, or creating mean group polls.
Fighting & Assault
- • Physical violence: punching, pushing, shoving, or kicking.
- • Assault: Intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to another.
Cyberbullying that happens off campus or on home devices still affects school safety and carries legal consequences.
3 Legal Category Three
Zero Tolerance Rule
Use or Possession of a Weapon
Weapons have no place anywhere near a school. Possession alone—even without using it—violates state law.
Real Weapons
Pocket knives, firearms, brass knuckles, blades, or stun devices.
Look-Alikes & Replicas
Airsoft guns, BB guns, or toy weapons modified to look realistic create serious school emergencies.
Holding it for a Friend
Keeping something dangerous in your locker or backpack makes you legally liable for possession.
Rule of Action: If you see or hear of a weapon, tell an adult immediately. Do not touch or inspect it.
Spotting the Difference
The Crucial Test
Teasing for Fun vs. Bullying vs. Threats
Teasing for Fun
Both people laugh & feel safe
Real Example:
Friends joking about missing an easy high-five in gym. Both laugh, and it stops instantly if anyone says "stop."
✓ Equal power • No fear
Bullying
One person hurts; repeated harm
Real Example:
Mocking someone's shoes every day at recess or intentionally leaving them out of group chats to make them cry.
! Power imbalance • Repeated
Threats & Violence
Promises of bodily danger
Real Example:
"Give me your lunch money or I'll jump you after the bell" or texting "Watch your locker burn."
✗ Immediate Legal Danger
The Golden Litmus Test: If only one person is laughing and the other feels small, fearful, or helpless—it is NEVER harmless teasing.
Student Power Blueprint
Recognize • Prevent • Take Action
What YOU Can Do as a Student
1. Recognize
- • Sudden changes in a classmate's mood or withdrawal.
- • Whisper rumors about weapons or planned fights.
- • Notes or texts saying "I want to disappear."
2. Prevent
- • Refuse to be an audience: don't laugh, cheer, or record fights.
- • Never forward mean posts or hurtful screenshots.
- • Invite someone sitting alone to sit with you.
3. Take Action
- • Say calmly: "That's not cool, knock it off."
- • Walk away and bring a friend to safety.
- • Report immediately to a trusted school adult or safety hotline.
Upstander Principle: Being an upstander takes only seconds, but can change someone's entire life.
Squad Challenge
Decode the Situation
Class Case: Which Category Does This Fit?
Scenario Brief
“During recess, Marcus notices an anonymous post in an online gaming group with photos of a classmate's locker captioned: 'You will regret showing up on Friday.'”
Category A
Just harmless video game trash talk
Category B
Written Threat & Cyberbullying (High Danger)
Category C
Wait until Friday to see if it's real
Correct Call: Category B! Tell a trusted school adult or resource officer right now. ✓ Safety Squad Approved
Action Protocol
Mission Wrap-Up
Tattling vs. Protecting: What's the Difference?
Tattling / Snitching
Trying to get someone into trouble over minor things that do not cause harm or danger (e.g., cutting in line, chewing gum).
Reporting / Protecting
Trying to get someone out of trouble or danger because lives, well-being, or legal safety are at risk.
Your Trusted Adult Network:
Teachers • School Counselor • Principal • Parents • Anonymous Tip Line
See Something, Say Something!
Next Step: Complete your Safety Squad Mission Worksheet!
Safety Squad Mission Worksheet
Safety Squad Academy • Student Dossier
Case Decoder: Teasing, Bullying, Threats & Weapons
GRADE 5 CIVICS & SAFETY
PAGE 1 OF 2
Student Name:
Date:
Squad / Homeroom:
1
Part 1: The Three-Way Test (Teasing, Bullying, or Threat?)
Read each example. In the box, write T for Teasing for Fun, B for Bullying, or TH for Threat.
Situation 1: Friends laugh together when one drops their pencil case, and help pick it up. Both are smiling.
Situation 2: A group repeatedly hides a student's lunch bag every day and calls them names until they cry.
Situation 3: A classmate texts: “If you don't do my homework, you'll regret coming to school on Monday.”
2
Part 2: The Three State Legal Categories
Match each legal category letter (A: Threats/Self-Harm, B: Bullying/Assault, C: Weapons) to its official definition.
Bringing, possessing, or storing a pocket knife, blade, firearm, or realistic replica weapon on school grounds.
Spoken, written, or posted promises to cause physical injury to someone or statements about harming oneself.
Repeated physical or digital acts using power to intimidate, isolate, punch, shove, or assault another person.
3
Part 3: Case File Investigations (Recognize & Act)
Case #101: The Pocket Knife Rumor
Category (A, B, or C):
A classmate shows off a folding knife in their backpack during morning locker time.
What is your exact immediate action as a student? Who do you report to?
Case #102: The Exclusionary Group Chat
Category (A, B, or C):
Students create a poll voting on “Ugliest outfits in Grade 5” and tag one targeted classmate.
How can an upstander help prevent this and what action should you take?
Safety Squad Academy • Harmful, Threatening & Violent Behavior Standards Turn page for Decision Matrix & Action Plan →
Safety Squad Academy • Mission Sheet
Decision Matrix & Safety Shield Plan
GRADE 5 CIVICS & SAFETY
PAGE 2 OF 2
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Part 4: Tattling vs. Protecting Decision Matrix
Mark an “X” in the correct column for each situation. Protecting saves people from real danger or harm; tries to get someone in trouble over minor, harmless rules.
Safety Squad Teacher Guide
Educator Facilitation Plan
Safety Squad Academy: Teacher Guide
GRADE 5 • 30 MINUTES
PAGE 1 OF 2
Target Standards
State legal definitions of harmful, threatening, or violent behavior; school safety & reporting protocols.
Materials Needed
Safety Squad Slides (9 slides), 2-page Mission Worksheet per student, pencils, projection screen.
Core Learning Goal
Distinguish teasing vs. bullying vs. threats; recognize signs, practice prevention, and execute reporting.
30-Minute Minute-by-Minute Timeline
0:00 - 0:05
Mission Briefing (Slides 1-2):
Hook students with the "Safety Squad" theme. Frame school as a sanctuary where everyone has a legal right to feel safe and respected.
0:05 - 0:12
Three Legal Categories (Slides 3-5):
Break down statutory categories: (1) Threats (verbal, written, self-harm); (2) Bullying, Cyberbullying, Fighting, Assault; (3) Weapons zero tolerance. Clarify that "just joking" does not excuse a threat.
0:12 - 0:19
Teasing vs. Bullying vs. Threats & Student Blueprint (Slides 6-7):
Teach the Golden Test: Teasing (equal power, both laugh, stops immediately) vs. Bullying (power imbalance, repeated, one hurts) vs. Threats (fear, promises of bodily harm). Walk through Recognize, Prevent, and Act steps.
0:19 - 0:26
Squad Challenge & Mission Handout (Slides 8-9 & Worksheet):
Run the quick check on Slide 8. Distribute worksheets for students to complete Parts 1-5 (Classification, Category match, Case investigations, and Tattling vs. Protecting matrix).
0:26 - 0:30
Debrief & Safety Pledge:
Solidify the rule: Protecting gets someone out of danger; tattling tries to get someone into trouble. Students recite and sign the Courage Pledge.
Key Facilitation Script: Teasing vs. Bullying
“Class, how can you immediately know if something is playful teasing or bullying? Ask yourself: Are both people smiling, or is one person shrinking inside? If someone asks you to stop and you keep going, that playful moment has crossed the line into bullying.”
Safety Squad Academy • Facilitation Guide Turn page for Complete Answer Key & Protocols →
Evaluation & Guidance
Worksheet Answer Key & Safety Protocols
GRADE 5 CIVICS & SAFETY
PAGE 2 OF 2
Complete Worksheet Answer Key
Part 1: The Three-Way Test
Situation 1: T (Teasing)
Situation 2: (Bullying)
