Safety Routine Lesson Plan Stop Don't Touch Tell
Lesson Guide & Timing Map
Time 45 MIN
Objective
By the end of this lesson, Kindergarten students will identify at least two unsafe substances, state the rule "Only take medicine from a trusted adult," and demonstrate the Stop–Don’t Touch–Tell routine in role-play.
Why This Matters
Teaching children to recognize dangerous items builds lifelong safety habits, boosts confidence to seek help, and prevents accidental harm or poisoning.
Teacher Preparation
Review the Teacher Script for Sensitive Topics .
Print and cut the Role-Play Cards and Pledge Cards .
Prepare the Picture Sort Slides and Safety Song .
Distribute the Pre/Post Likert Survey before starting.
Instructional Sequence
5 MIN
Engage & Pre-Check
Gather students in a circle. Model the survey faces (😟 to 😄). Conduct the "Feelings Check-In Turn and Talk": share one thing that makes you feel safe.
10 MIN
Teach Safety Rules
Introduce the big idea: "Only take medicine from a trusted adult." Show the Picture Sort Slides (cigarettes, vapes, pills, cleaners). Teach the Safety Signal Song .
10 MIN
Guided Practice
Use the slides for a "Green/Red Card" response activity. Complete the Safe Choice Picture Sheet . Reinforce: "This is not safe because..."
15 MIN
Role-Play Practice
Small groups use Role-Play Cards . Practice: Stop! Don't Touch! Tell! Peers use the Performance Rubric to give simple "Thumbs Up" feedback.
5 MIN
Exit Ticket & Reflection
Complete the Pledge Card (name a trusted adult). Re-do the Likert Survey to show growth in confidence.
Materials Required
• Picture Sort Slides
• Role-Play Cards
• Safety Signal Song Poster
• Safe Choice Worksheet
• Likert Face Survey
• Performance Rubric
• Teacher Script (Sensitive Topics)
• Trusted Helper Pledge Cards
Picture Sort Slides Safe or Not Safe?
Learning to Keep Our Bodies Healthy
SAFE
NOT SAFE
Teacher: Today we’ll practice sorting safe and unsafe items. Have students use green/red cards.
Water Bottle
💧
Is this safe to touch or take?
Teacher: Water helps our bodies and is safe. Praise correct answers.
Apple
🍎
Is this safe to touch or take?
Teacher: Fruit is a healthy snack that is safe to eat.
Band-Aid
🩹
Is this safe to touch or take?
Teacher: Band-aids help heal cuts and are safe when used by a grown-up.
Toy Block
🧱
Is this safe to touch or take?
Teacher: Point out that toy blocks are safe to touch and play with.
Marker
🖍️
Is this safe to touch or take?
Teacher: Markers are safe for coloring when used with adult permission.
Cigarette
🚬
Is this safe to touch or take?
STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL!
Teacher: Cigarettes have harmful chemicals. Remind students of the routine.
Vape Pen
💨
Is this safe to touch or take?
STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL!
Teacher: Vape pens can hurt our bodies. Practice the routine together.
Unknown Pills
💊
Is this safe to touch or take?
STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL!
Teacher: Only trusted adults give medicine. Unknown pills are dangerous.
Bleach Bottle
🧴
Is this safe to touch or take?
STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL!
Teacher: Bleach is a strong cleaner that can harm us.
Cleaning Spray
🫧
Is this safe to touch or take?
STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL!
Teacher: Cleaning spray can irritate our skin. Ask a trusted adult first.
Safety Routine Role-Play Cards Safety Squad Role-Play Cards
Practice the routine: Stop! Don't Touch! Tell!
1
💊
White Pills
You find some white pills on the floor.
2
🧴
Open Bleach
You see an open bottle of bleach under the kitchen sink.
3
💨
Vape Pen
You notice a vape pen left on a park bench.
4
🚬
Cigarette Butt
You spot a lit cigarette butt near the playground trash can.
5
🍾
Mystery Bottle
You find an unmarked pill bottle sitting on your desk.
6
🧽
High Shelf Spray
You see a cleaning spray bottle on a high shelf but no adult nearby.
7
🏥
Low Table Medicine
You find a sealed bottle of medicine on a low table with no grown-up around.
8
🍬
Candy or Pill?
You discover a dish of colorful round objects and aren’t sure if they’re candy or pills.
Role-Play Directions
Pick a card and describe what you see.
Everyone shouts: "Stop! Don't Touch! Tell!"
The reader tells which trusted adult they will go find.
Practice walking to the adult and asking for help.
Safety Signal Song Poster The Safety Signal Song
Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
Stop, stop, stop – clap, clap, clap!
Don’t, don’t, don’t – clap, clap, clap!
Tell a helper right away – clap, clap, clap!
Stop, don’t touch, then tell, hooray – clap, clap, clap!
STOP
Hand up like a stop sign!
DON'T
Freeze in place like a statue!
TELL
Point to your ear, then point up!
HOORAY!
Wave arms in a big circle!
"Keep singing and moving until safety feels like second nature!"
Safe Choice Worksheet Safe Choice Hunt
Circle the picture that is safe to touch or take.
Name:
Date:
💧
Water Bottle
OR
🧴
Bleach Bottle
🍎
Red Apple
OR
🚬
Cigarette
🩹
Band-Aid
OR
💨
Vape Pen
🧱
Toy Block
OR
💊
Pills
Only take medicine from a trusted adult!
Safety Feelings Survey Safety Confidence Check
How safe do you feel about making healthy choices?
1
BEFORE the Lesson
😟
Very unsafe
😕
A little unsafe
🙂
A little safe
😄
Very safe
Wait for the End!
2
AFTER the Lesson
😟
Very unsafe
😕
A little unsafe
🙂
A little safe
😄
Very safe
My Name:
Today's Date:
Safety Routine Mastery Rubric Performance Rubric
Routine: Stop • Don’t Touch • Tell
Teacher Instructions
Use this rubric during the role-play activity to assess student mastery of the safety routine. Circle the level that best matches the student's demonstration for each criteria.
Criteria 1 – Emerging 2 – Developing 3 – Proficient 4 – Exemplary Stop Hesitates or does not pause when seeing an unsafe item. Pauses sometimes but needs reminders or cues. Stops right away most of the time without prompting. Immediately stops and models the pause for others. Don't Touch May reach for or handle the unsafe item. Often avoids touching but occasionally reaches out. Consistently keeps hands away from the unsafe item. Keeps a safe distance and reminds peers not to touch. Tell Does not seek help or tell a trusted adult. Tells a peer instead of finding a trusted adult. Clearly tells a trusted adult right away. Actively names a specific trusted adult and explains why.
Scoring Guide
1 = Emerging: Needs full support and frequent prompts.2 = Developing: Requires occasional cues.3 = Proficient: Performs independently with minimal support.4 = Exemplary: Consistently models and reinforces for others.
Observations / Notes
Stop Don't Touch Tell Routine Kindergarten Safety Mastery
Teacher Script for Sensitive Topics Teacher Resource
Sensitive Topics Script
Guidance for discussing unsafe substances with empathy, clarity, and safety-focused messaging.
1 Opening the Conversation
“Today we’re talking about things that help keep our bodies healthy—and things that can accidentally hurt us if we’re not careful. It’s okay to feel curious or even a little nervous. We’re going to learn what to do if we ever see something we’re not sure about.”
PROMPT: “Can someone share a time you saw something new and wondered if it was safe?”
2 Talking About Cigarettes
“Here’s an adult item called a cigarette. It’s a small stick that some grown-ups use, but it has smoke and chemicals that can hurt our bodies. We don’t ever touch it because it’s not safe for our lungs and our heart. If you ever see a cigarette on the ground, you can do our safety routine: Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell a trusted adult!”
FOLLOW-UP: “What might you say when you go tell? ‘I saw a cigarette on the ground, please help me.’ Let’s practice.”
3 Discussing Vape Pens
“A vape pen looks like a marker, but it holds water and chemicals that grown-ups can inhale. It can taste fruity, but it’s not candy and it’s not safe for our bodies. If you ever find one, remember: Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell a trusted adult!”
PROMPT: “How would you tell your helper? ‘I found something that looks like a marker but isn’t—can you help me?’”
4 Unknown Pills or Candy
“Sometimes pills look like candy. If you see small, colorful pieces on a table or the floor, you might think they’re candy—but they could be medicine that’s not for you. If you’re not sure, you don’t try to taste them. Instead: Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell a trusted adult!”
QUESTION: “What trusted adult will you tell? Let’s each name one.”
5 Household Cleaners
“Moms and dads use sprays and powders to clean the house—like bleach or multi-surface spray. Those can make our skin itchy or hurt our tummies if we touch or taste them. If you ever find a spray bottle or powder and you’re not sure it’s safe, remember: Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell a trusted adult!”
PROMPT: “Show me your stop hand! Now let’s practice saying, ‘Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell Ms. Rivera, please.’”
6 Reassuring and Reinforcing
“You are all safety superstars! It’s brave and smart to say, ‘I’m not sure about this—help!’ No grown-up will be upset if you ask for help. They want you to be safe. Let’s sing our Safety Signal Song one more time to remember our words and moves!”
CLOSURE: “Can someone remind the class why we only take medicine from a trusted adult?”
Use this script alongside your visuals and role-play activities to support students through these sensitive topics.
Feelings Check-In Guide Lesson Opener
Feelings Check-In
How safe do you feel about making healthy choices today?
😟
Very Unsafe
😕
A Little Unsafe
🙂
A Little Safe
😄
Very Safe
Turn and Talk
"Turn to your partner and share one thing or one person that makes you feel safe."
Teacher Instructions
Gather students in a circle so everyone can see the faces.
Point to each face and name the feeling associated with it.
Ask students to silently point to the face that shows how they feel right now.
Transition into the partner sharing activity to build a sense of community and security.
Trusted Helper Pledge Card Print and cut along the dashed lines
Safety Pledge
Official Safety Squad Member
I promise to keep my body safe by telling a trusted adult if I see something I'm not sure about.
My Trusted Helper
Draw or Write their name here
My Signature
Date
Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell!
Safety Pledge
Official Safety Squad Member
I promise to keep my body safe by telling a trusted adult if I see something I'm not sure about.
My Trusted Helper
Draw or Write their name here
My Signature
Date
Stop! Don’t Touch! Tell!
