Get prepared

What you'll need

• "Get prepared winter safety" slideshow
• “Get prepared! Winter safety” take-home activity

This activity can be done with everyone seated on the floor or at their desks/tables.

Create a rainstorm

1. Explain that a rainstorm is coming – but don’t worry, it won’t last long – you’re going to make it happen as a class. 
2. Tell the class that you’re going to do an action and you want the students to copy you. Explain that the actions should spread from student to student. Have the students closest start copying you, then the students beside them, and continue until everyone is making the same sound, before changing to the next one. Students should keep making their sound until their neighbour changes actions, and then they should follow. Follow these actions in order:
   • Rub hands together.
   • Tap two fingers on the palm of your other hand.
   • Clap your hands.
   • Slap your thighs.
   • Slap your thighs and stomp your feet.
   • Slap your thighs.
   • Clap your hands.
   • Tap two fingers on the palm of your other hand.
   • Rub hands together. 
   • Stop.
3. Explain the storm has passed… but the lights are off and the power has gone out!
   • We use electricity all the time, every day for all sorts of things like lights, computers, refrigerators, stoves and more!
   • But now the power is out. Who has been in a power outage before? How do you know when the power’s gone out?
   • You decide to go outside and play.
   • The trees are dripping, the ground is wet and you look down the street. 
   • You see the power lines, that are normally held up in the air by power poles, have been knocked over by a tree that fell down. (Show slides 2 and 3 from the “Get prepared winter safety” slideshow.)
   • Downed power lines are a dangerous situation, but luckily there’s an easy way to remember how to stay safe. It’s “Down. Danger. Dial.” 
   • If you see power lines down, you need to stay back the length of a big yellow school bus and have an adult call 911. 
   • You go home to tell an adult about the downed power line and pull out the emergency kit so you’re ready in case the power is still out when it gets dark.

What’s in your emergency kit?

Slides 4 to 10 from the “Get prepared winter safety” slideshow introduce students to items they need in an emergency kit. If you prefer, you can do the game with real items set up at the front of the class.

4. Slide 4: What do you think should be in our emergency kits at home? Hear some ideas.
5. Slide 5: Review the 10 key things you’d find in an emergency kit.
   • Battery-powered radio
   • Phone charger 
   • Whistle
   • Extra clothing (sweater)
   • Plastic bag
   • Flashlight
   • Non-perishable food (can)
   • Water
   • First aid kit
   • Emergency plan (contacts, meeting place, etc.)
6. Slides 6 to 10 each have one item missing from their emergency kit. 
   • Have students look at the picture and when they figure out what’s missing, they can raise their hand.
   • Once most, or all, students have their hand raised, ask one of them to tell you what’s missing. 
   • Congratulate them on their skills of observation and being good detectives.

Get prepared! Winter safety take-home activity

7. Explain that now they can be detectives at home and teach their families how to get prepared for power outages during the stormy winter season. 
   • Give each student a copy of the “Get prepared! Winter safety” take-home activity and review it with them.
   • When they get home, look for things that use electricity with their family and draw them on the first page. 
   • Remind students to stay safe around downed power lines by remembering “Down. Danger. Dial.”
   • Have them draw emergency kit items in the box at the top of page 2 to review with their families. 
   • Parents and guardians can follow the links provided at BC Hydro and PreparedBC to find a full list of what to pack in an emergency kit.