Elementary School Activities

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Appendix H

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

PLAY REENACTMENT

For the younger children availability of toys that encourage play reenactment of their experience and observations during the traumatic event can be helpful. Toys might include ambulances, dump trucks, fire trucks, building blocks, and dolls.

PUPPETS

Play with puppets can be effective in reducing inhibitions and encouraging children to talk about their feelings and thoughts. Children will often respond more freely to a puppet asking about what happened, than to an adult asking the questions directly. Help or encourage the children to develop skits or puppet shows about what happened in the event. Encourage them to include anything positive about the experience as well as those aspects that were frightening or disconcerting.

ART AND DISCUSSION GROUPS

Do a group mural on butcher paper with topics such as "What happened in your neighborhood (school name or home) when _______________." This is recommended for small groups with discussion afterward facilitated by an adult. This type of activity can help them feel less isolated and provide the opportunity to vent feelings. Have the children draw individual pictures and then talk about them in small groups. It is important in the group discussion to end on a positive note, e.g., a feeling of mastery or preparedness; noting that the community or family pulled together to deal with the crisis; in addition to providing the opportunity to talk about their feelings about what took place.

SHARE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE

Stimulate group discussion about disaster experiences by sharing your own feelings, fears or experiences. It is very important to legitimize feelings and to help feel less isolated.

DISASTER PLANS

Have the children brainstorm their own classroom or family disaster plan. What would they do if they had to evacuate? How would they contact parents? How should the family be prepared? How could they help the family?

READING

Read aloud, or have the children read stories or books about children or families dealing with stressful situations; pulling together during times of hardship, etc.

CREATIVE WRITING OR DISCUSSION TOPICS

In a discussion or writing assignment have the children make up a "happy ending" to a traumatic event/disaster. Have the children make up a disaster in which their favorite super-heroes "save the day." Have the children describe in detail a very scary intense moment in time and a very happy moment. Create a group story, recorded by the teacher, about a dog or cat that was in an earthquake, flood, etc. What happened to him? What did he do? How did he feel? You can help the students by providing connective elements; emphasize creative problem solving and positive resolution.

PLAYACTING

In small groups play the game, "If you were an animal, what would you be?" You might adapt discussion questions such as "If you were that animal, what would you do when_______________?" Have the children take turns acting out an emotion in front of the class (without talking) and have the rest of the class guess what the feeling is an why he/she might have that feeling. (Good as well as "bad" feelings.)

OTHER DISASTERS

Have the children bring in newspaper clippings on disasters that have happened in other parts of the world. Ask the students how they imagine the survivors might have felt or what they might have experienced. "Have you ever had a similar experience or feeling?"

TENSION BREAKERS

A good tension breaker when the children are restless is a "co-listening" exercise. Have the children quickly pair up with a partner. Child #1 takes a turn at talking about anything he/she wants to, while child #2 simply listens. After three minutes they switch roles and #2 talks while #1 listens. Also, when the children are anxious and restless, any activity that involves large muscle movements are helpful

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