Summer Safety Rules
Level 1 builds foundational safety awareness.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Summer Time
- Learning area: Understanding the World
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Name summer safety rules
- role-play safe behaviours.
Instructions
Materials
- Large poster board featuring illustrations of sun hats, sunscreen, water, and shade.
- A collection of real summer items like a sun hat, sunglasses, a water bottle, and a light-coloured shirt.
- Laminated picture cards depicting safe and unsafe summer choices.
- A sorting bin labelled with a happy sun icon.
- Child-safe glue sticks and sugar paper.
Learning Objectives
- Identify at least three essential items needed to stay safe during summer weather.
- Demonstrate the ability to sort images into categories of safe and unsafe summer behaviours.
- Verbally explain why shade and water are important for the body on a hot day.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Gather the children in a circle and display the real summer items.
2. Hold up each item and ask the children to name it and explain how it helps us stay comfortable in the heat.
3. Introduce the concept of sun safety by explaining that our skin needs protection from the sun just like we wear coats in the winter.
4. Show the large poster board and point to the illustrations of shade and hydration.
5. Lead a brief discussion on why we drink water when we play outside.
6. Distribute the laminated picture cards to the children.
7. Ask each child to place their card into the sorting bin if it represents a safe summer choice.
8. Review the bin contents together, reinforcing the safe choices with positive verbal praise.
9. Have children glue their own paper cutouts of sun hats or water bottles onto a sheet to create a personal safety reminder.
Educator Tip
Keep the discussion focused on positive actions rather than scary outcomes. If a child struggles with the sorting task, provide one-on-one support by asking binary questions such as, Is this hat for the sun or for the rain?
Assessment
- Observe if the child can correctly identify the purpose of a sun hat or water bottle during the group discussion.
- Note if the child successfully sorts the picture cards into the safe category.
- Record whether the child can verbally state one way to stay safe in the sun.
Assessment
Observe and note: ability to follow two-step instructions, use of new vocabulary in context, early problem-solving strategies, and sustained shared thinking episodes. Assess against Development Matters age-band expectations. Checklist: rule identification, participation.