River Safety Lesson Plan

Title: River Safety

Overview: Presentation to students that will attend a Sandbar School to learn appropriate safety measures

Grades: 4

Objective: River and Sandbar Safety

Students will discuss appropriate safety measures that need to be taken in order to enjoy learning about the river

Materials: Indelible markers, Personal flotation devices, Handouts of suggested safety measures, examples of suggested themes

PFD checklist, test, and sample field trip wavier

Method: Instructor will present the pretest, project and the objectives.

Classroom Presentation: Using a computer with Power Point capabilities instructor will discuss the project. What you might see on the sandbar (purpose of overall field trip) and river and sandbar safety.

Outdoor Presentation: Instructor will discuss the project. What you might see on the sandbar (purpose of overall field trip) and river and sandbar safety.

  • In pairs students will go through the checklist and to make sure they put on the PFD’s correctly.
  • Instructor will inform student’s that there will be a fashion show and contest with prizes for the best.
  • Instructor will distribute PFD Checklist and PFD’s
  • The teacher and instructor will put student names on the PFD’s to facilitate grouping at the Sandbar School
  • Students will discuss appropriate themes and decorate PFDs with indelible markers
  • Students will decorate their PFD’s
  • Students will provide a fashion show for the adults present
  • Prizes will be awarded to students based on appropriateness of theme (river oriented art work) and quality of art work on PFD’s as well as students’ understanding of safety measures
  • PFDs will be collected

Evaluation: Students will demonstrate how to put on their decorated PFDs appropriately. Post test will be done following the return to the classroom.

Internet Resources: PowerPoint used in pre-test will be available for review online.

Presentations will be available for review online.

 

PFD – Personal Flotation Device (Life Preserver) Checklist

Testing your PFD

1. Put the PFD around your neck

2. Tie the neck straps in a bow

3. Buckle the waist belt

4. Pull the waist belt until it is snug (ideally, the PFD should have a range of adjustability so that you can get a snug, but comfortable fit over a range of clothing, from a T-shirt to a pile sweater to a parka or rain-coat).

5. Try some paddling motions to make sure the PFD doesn’t chafe or impair your range of motion.

6. Kneel or sit, and with your arms raised over your head, ask a friend to lift the top of PFD as high as it will go. If the neck tie of the PFD goes above your chin, or if your ears and neck slip though the head opening, it’s too loose. The PFD should not move freely or almost come off.

7. Readjust the PFD as needed and repeat step 6

Cardinal Rules on PFDs

1. Wear your PFD.
2. Make sure your PFD fits.
3. Don’t sit on your PFD-take care of your PFD.
4. Wear your PFD!