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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe situations where I might feel unsafe and explain how to be an active bystander.

      Key learning points

      1. Sometimes we have to keep ourselves safe by making healthy choices.
      2. Some situations are particularly risky, such as meeting strangers online or leaving the house without trusted adults.
      3. We should use our instinct and our brains to decide what the right thing to do is.
      4. If we are worried, upset or scared, telling a trusted adult will help.
      5. We can support our friends by being active bystanders, instead of bystanders.

      Keywords

      • Situation - what is happening around you at a particular time and place

      • Risky - something that is potentially dangerous

      • Instinct - your gut feeling about something

      • Bystander - someone who witnesses something

      • Active bystander - someone who takes action when something bad happens

      Common misconception

      Being online is safer than going out of the house.

      Although there is limited risk of physical harm in the online space, young people are vulnerable online. Some people online deliberately hurt young people, take advantage of young people or share indecent images and videos of young people.

      Teacher tip

      Working closely with your DSL, add scenarios and examples of danger from local contextual safeguarding information.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

      Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

      Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the words with their definition.

      Correct Answer:motivation,the reason why someone does something

      the reason why someone does something

      Correct Answer:popular,how liked or admired someone is

      how liked or admired someone is

      Correct Answer:discrimination,treating a person unfairly because of their characteristics

      treating a person unfairly because of their characteristics

      Correct Answer:identity,who someone is

      who someone is

      Q2.
      When people try to persuade or force you to do something, this is called ...

      Correct Answer: peer pressure, pressure

      Q3.
      Which statements are true?

      Correct answer: It is not possible to know who someone really is online.
      It is easy to delete something from the internet.
      Correct answer: Healthy friendships feel equal and respectful.
      We must always say 'yes' to our friends.

      Q4.
      Adults should...

      Correct answer: keep us safe
      Correct answer: never touch us in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable
      make us feel unsafe
      do whatever we ask
      Correct answer: listen and respond to what we need

      Q5.
      Which of the following are examples of respect?

      always doing what your friend asks you to do
      Correct answer: listening to your friends' opinions, even if they are different to yours
      shouting at your friend if they have a different opinion to you
      Correct answer: balancing your needs with your friends' needs

      Q6.
      Match the start of each sentence with how it should end.

      Correct Answer:Boundaries are...,imaginary lines separating what we will and won't allow.

      imaginary lines separating what we will and won't allow.

      Correct Answer:Ignoring someone's boundaries...,is unacceptable.

      is unacceptable.

      Correct Answer:We can repair relationships...,after arguments, if we both try.

      after arguments, if we both try.

      Correct Answer:We can disagree...,respectfully and kindly.

      respectfully and kindly.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the words with their definition.

      Correct Answer:situation,what is happening around you at a particular time and place

      what is happening around you at a particular time and place

      Correct Answer:risky,something that is potentially dangerous

      something that is potentially dangerous

      Correct Answer:bystander,someone who witnesses something

      someone who witnesses something

      Q2.
      In a risky situation, we can use our and our brains to decide what the right thing to do is.

      Correct Answer: instinct, gut, intuition, gut instinct

      Q3.
      Which statements are true?

      Correct answer: Sometimes we have to keep ourselves safe by making healthy choices.
      Being online is always safer than going out of the house.
      Correct answer: Young people are especially vulnerable online and can be harmed.
      It is safe to meet strangers online.

      Q4.
      What can we do if we are in a risky situation?

      always do what our friends are doing
      Correct answer: tell a trusted adult
      Correct answer: say 'no' and leave the situation
      be a bystander, not an active bystander

      Q5.
      How can we be an active bystander?

      Correct answer: by calling out when people are being unsafe
      Correct answer: by telling a trusted adult if someone is at risk
      by pressuring others to take a risk
      by ignoring a risky situation

      Q6.
      Which situations are likely to be unsafe?

      Correct answer: leaving the house without trusted adults knowing where we are
      going on a school trip
      Correct answer: playing with cleaning products
      learning to ride a bike with a trusted adult

      To help you plan your 5 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Finding support when I feel unsafe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...