Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 4-6 (ages 9-11)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to emphasize to children the importance of continuing to tell adults until they get the help they need. This might mean telling more than one person what is happening.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

Activity cards (matched pairs that are cut out, mixed up, with each child getting one)

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

• Photocopy activity cards so there are enough matched pairs for the whole class
• Cut up cards so that each child gets one and another gets the corresponding matching card (in case of an odd number of children, the same card can be given to more than one child and 3 children can match instead of just in pairs)

Task Time: 45 minutes

• Introduce activity
• Implement activity
• Engage in discussion

Activity Description:

Activity:

1.       Tell the class they will be playing a game whereby some of them will be given activity cards with a particular need whereas others are given cards that meet those needs. They are to walk around and tell the need to one another until they find the individual with the card that matches their need

Remind the children to not call out what their activity card is. Rather the goal is to meet face to face with another individual in the class and tell them what their activity card says. It is also important children say what is on their activity card rather than simply showing it to each other to emphasize the importance of clear, verbal communication

2.       Hand out an activity card to each individual. Once all the children have activity cards, have them begin the activity by walking around the classroom, verbally telling each other what their card says and try to match up with each other. Once an individual has found their match, they can come show the facilitator and then come and take another activity card to continue the activity

3.       Once most children have found a match (or when around 15 minutes have passed), collect all the activity cards and have the children gather for a whole class discussion

Wrap-up Discussion:

4.       Go through the following discussion questions with the class:

• Who was able to find a match on the first try? How did that make you feel?
• Who was able to find a match rather quickly? How did that make you feel?
• Who took some time before they were able to find a match? How did that make you feel? How did it feel to finally find someone who matched your need?
• Who was not able to find a match? How did that make you feel?

Encourage children by telling them they did a great job by continuing to try. Remind them that they only had a limited amount of time to play the game, otherwise, they would have found their match

• Why is it so important to find the right person (card) to match with instead of just matching with just anyone? Why would that not work? (Example answer: Because they would not be able to help you with what you need)
• When you could not find your match right away, what did you have to do? (Example answer: keep looking until you found the person who matched your need) Why is it so important to do so? (Example answer: to make sure that you get the help that you really need)

5.       As a conclusion to the discussion, make sure to emphasize that when we are getting help for a problem or worry, it is important to keep telling until we get the help we need. Maybe the first adult we talk to cannot provide us with the help that we need, but it is imperative that we move on and keep telling until we find the adult who can help us the way we need them to

Activity Extensions:

• After the discussion, have the class reflect in their journals or writer’s notebooks about a situation from the past or a possible future situation whereby it is important for them to keep asking for help until they get the help they need. Have them write down 3 or more people who they can get help from
• Take children through the Kids Help Phone website to help them become aware of this resource and of its availability in times of need

Additional Comments:

This activity can be adapted for younger students whereby illustrations replace the written content on the activity cards or illustrations with writing

This activity may lead individuals to disclose suspected instances of abuse. In these instances, the facilitator has a legal obligation to report this information to a child protection agency (in the case of Ontario, the Children’s Aid Society (CAS)). Please review over the information provided around disclosure (hyperlink) and the reporting process (hyperlink) before any of the activities in the Getting Help Module.

Additional Resources:

• Kids Help Phone
• You may also choose to review the Getting Help Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here