Roles of Peer Groups in a Child’s Personal Security: Meaning of Peer Group and Influence of Peer Groups on a Child’s Personal Security | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 4 Security Education

ROLES OF PEER GROUPS IN A CHILD’S PERSONAL SECURITY: MEANING OF PEER GROUP AND INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUPS ON A CHILD’S PERSONAL SECURITY 

SECURITY EDUCATION

PRIMARY 5 – SECOND TERM – WEEK 4

THEME – NATIONAL VALUES EDUCATION 

PREVIOUS LESSON – Roles of Parents in a Child’s Personal Security: Roles and Responsibilities of Parents in Protecting a Child’s Personal Security | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 3 Security Education

TOPIC – ROLES OF PEER GROUPS IN A CHILD’S PERSONAL SECURITY

LEARNING AREA 

1. Introduction

2. Meaning of Peer Group

3. Influence of Peer Groups on a Child’s Personal Security

• Positives Influence of Peer Groups

• Nagetives Influence of Peer Groups

4. Roles of Peer Groups in Personal Security

5. How Children can choose Good Peer Groups

6. Weekly Assessment: Test Questions and Answers/Assignment

7. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of a peer group.

2. Give examples of peer groups.

3. State the positive influence of peer groups on a child’s personal security.

4. Mention the negative influence of peer groups on a child’s personal security.

5. Explain how children can choose good peer groups.

6. State ways peer groups can help one another to stay safe.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

Pupils have previously learned about the roles of parents in protecting a child’s personal security.

This lesson builds on that knowledge by teaching pupils how friends and other children of similar age can also influence their safety and security.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Pictures of children playing and learning together

2. Pictures of good and bad peer-group activities

3. Flashcards

4. Charts showing positive and negative peer influence

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

Children often spend time with people of the same age at home, in school, during sports, and in their neighbourhoods. These friends can influence the way a child behaves and makes decisions.

A peer group is a group of people who are of similar age or have similar interests and spend time together.

Peer groups can have positive or negative effects on a child’s personal security. Good friends can encourage safe and responsible behaviour, while bad friends may encourage dangerous or harmful activities.

In this lesson, pupils will learn about the meaning of peer group and the influence of peer groups on a child’s personal security.

LESSON 1 – MEANING OF PEER GROUP

A peer group is a group of people who are of similar age or have similar interests and who spend time together.

Examples of peer groups include:

• Classmates

• School friends

• Sports groups

• Members of a school club

• Children who live in the same neighbourhood

LESSON 2 – INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUPS ON A CHILD’S PERSONAL SECURITY

Peer groups can have positive or negative influences on a child’s personal security.

A. Positive Influence of Peer Groups

Good friends can help a child to stay safe by:

1. Encouraging the child to obey safety rules.

2. Warning the child about dangerous situations.

3. Reporting unsafe activities to trusted adults.

4. Encouraging the child to avoid bad behaviour.

5. Supporting the child when facing difficulties.

6. Helping the child make good decisions.

7. Encouraging peaceful behaviour.

8. Working together to keep one another safe.

B. Negative Influence of Peer Groups

Bad peer groups may encourage children to:

1. Disobey parents and teachers.

2. Follow strangers or enter dangerous places.

3. Fight or bully others.

4. Join bad gangs.

5. Take part in harmful activities.

6. Hide dangerous behaviour from adults.

7. Use harmful substances.

8. Ignore safety rules.

LESSON 3 – ROLES OF PEER GROUPS IN PERSONAL SECURITY

Peer groups can play an important role in keeping children safe when they:

1. Encourage one another to behave responsibly.

2. Share safety information.

3. Warn one another about danger.

4. Report suspicious activities.

5. Discourage bullying and fighting.

6. Support friends who are being threatened or harmed.

7. Encourage friends to seek help from trusted adults.

8. Promote peace and cooperation.

LESSON 4 – HOW CHILDREN CAN CHOOSE GOOD PEER GROUPS

Children should choose friends who:

1. Obey safety rules.

2. Respect parents, teachers, and others.

3. Avoid fighting and harmful behaviour.

4. Tell the truth.

5. Make responsible decisions.

6. Encourage good behaviour.

7. Report dangerous situations.

8. Respect other people’s rights.

ON A FINAL NOTE 

• A peer group is a group of people of similar age or with similar interests who spend time together.

• Peer groups can influence a child’s personal security positively or negatively.

• Good friends encourage safety, responsible behaviour, and good decisions, while bad friends may encourage fighting, bullying, dangerous activities, and other harmful behaviour.

• Children should therefore choose friends who promote safety, peace, respect, and good behaviour.

WEEKLY ASSESSMENT: TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS/ASSIGNMENT 

A. Multiple Choice Questions

1. A peer group is a group of people who are ______.

A. of similar age or interests

B. all teachers

C. all parents

D. all security officers

2. Which of the following is a positive influence of a peer group?

A. Encouraging safe behaviour

B. Encouraging fighting

C. Joining bad gangs

D. Disobeying parents

3. Good friends can help a child stay safe by ______.

A. warning the child about danger

B. encouraging the child to fight

C. hiding dangerous activities

D. encouraging the child to break rules

4. Which of the following is a negative peer influence?

A. Helping a friend

B. Sharing safety information

C. Encouraging bullying

D. Promoting peace

5. Children should choose friends who ______.

A. encourage good behaviour

B. encourage crime

C. enjoy fighting

D. disobey safety rules

B. Fill in the Gaps

Options – friends, group, peer, bullying, safety,

6. A ______ group consists of people of similar age or interests.

7. Good ______ can encourage children to stay safe.

8. Peer groups can share ______ information with one another.

9. Children should avoid friends who encourage ______.

10. A group of people of similar age or interests is called a peer ______.

C. True or False

11. Peer groups can influence a child’s behaviour. ______

12. Good friends can encourage safe behaviour. ______

13. Bad peer groups may encourage children to fight. ______

14. Children should join any peer group without thinking about its behaviour. ______

15. Peer groups can help one another to stay safe. ______

D. Matching

16. Peer group – A. Encourages harmful behaviour

17. Good friends – B. Group of people of similar age or interests

18. Bad friends – C. Encourage safe behaviour

19. Bullying – D. Hurting or frightening another person

20. Safety information – E. Information that helps people avoid danger

ANSWER KEY

1. A 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. A

6. peer

7. friends

8. safety

9. bullying

10. group

11. True

12. True

13. True

14. False

15. True

16. B – Group of people of similar age or interests

17. C – Encourage safe behaviour

18. A – Encourages harmful behaviour

19. D – Hurting or frightening another person

20. E – Information that helps people avoid danger

SUMMARY

In this lesson, pupils learned that a peer group is a group of people of similar age or interests who spend time together.

They learned that peer groups can have positive or negative influences on a child’s personal security.

Good peer groups can:

• Encourage safe behaviour.

• Warn one another about danger.

• Share safety information.

• Discourage fighting and bullying.

• Encourage good decision-making.

• Help one another to stay safe.

Bad peer groups can:

• Encourage fighting and bullying.

• Encourage children to disobey parents and teachers.

• Encourage dangerous activities.

• Encourage children to join bad gangs.

• Make children ignore safety rules.

Pupils learned that they should choose friends who promote safety, peace, respect, and good behaviour.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

The teacher asks pupils:

• Who are your friends in school?

• Why do you like spending time with your friends?

• Can friends influence the way a child behaves?

• Can friends help one another to stay safe?

The teacher explains that children often spend time with people of similar age or interests. These friends can influence their behaviour and personal security.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention some activities they do with their friends.

Step 2: Meaning of Peer Group

The teacher explains that a peer group is a group of people who are of similar age or have similar interests and spend time together.

Examples include:

• Classmates

• School friends

• Sports groups

• School club members

• Children who live in the same neighbourhood

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils give examples of peer groups they belong to or know.

Step 3: Positive Influence of Peer Groups

The teacher explains that good peer groups can help children stay safe.

Good friends can:

• Encourage one another to obey safety rules.

• Warn friends about dangerous situations.

• Share useful safety information.

• Report unsafe activities to trusted adults.

• Discourage fighting and bullying.

• Encourage good decision-making.

• Support friends when they face difficulties.

• Promote peace and cooperation.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention ways their friends have helped them make good or safe decisions.

Step 4: Negative Influence of Peer Groups

The teacher explains that bad peer groups can negatively affect a child’s personal security.

Bad friends may encourage children to:

• Disobey parents and teachers.

• Fight or bully others.

• Join bad gangs.

• Visit dangerous places.

• Take part in harmful activities.

• Ignore safety rules.

• Hide dangerous behaviour from adults.

• Use harmful substances.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils identify behaviours that children should avoid when choosing friends.

Step 5: Roles of Peer Groups in Personal Security

The teacher explains that peer groups can help protect children when they:

• Encourage responsible behaviour.

• Share safety information.

• Warn one another about danger.

• Report suspicious activities.

• Discourage bullying and fighting.

• Support friends who are being threatened or harmed.

• Encourage friends to seek help from trusted adults.

• Promote peace and cooperation.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss how they can help their friends stay safe.

Step 6: Choosing Good Friends

The teacher explains that children should choose friends who:

• Obey safety rules.

• Respect parents and teachers.

• Tell the truth.

• Avoid fighting and harmful behaviour.

• Make responsible decisions.

• Encourage good behaviour.

• Report dangerous situations.

• Respect other people’s rights.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils mention qualities they look for in good friends.

Step 7: What to Do When Friends Encourage Bad Behaviour

The teacher explains that pupils should not follow friends into dangerous or harmful activities.

They should:

• Say no to harmful activities.

• Move away from dangerous situations.

• Inform a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult.

• Encourage their friends to make safe choices.

• Avoid joining bad gangs.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils role-play how to refuse a friend’s invitation to participate in a dangerous activity.

Step 8: Group Activity

The teacher divides pupils into four groups.

• Group 1: Explain the meaning of peer group and give three examples.

• Group 2: Mention five positive influences of peer groups.

• Group 3: Mention five negative influences of peer groups.

• Group 4: State five qualities of good friends.

Each group presents its answers to the class.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils discuss, write, and present their answers.

Step 9: Lesson Summary

The teacher reviews the main points of the lesson, including the meaning of peer group, positive and negative peer influence, roles of peer groups in personal security, and how to choose good friends.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer oral questions and summarise what they have learned.

Step 10: Evaluation

The teacher gives pupils a different set of 20 questions as oral questions, a quiz, take-home work, or a quick test to assess their understanding.

Pupils’ Activities: Pupils answer the questions individually or in groups.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

NEXT LESSON

Reasons for Personal Security: Reasons for Personal Security and Importance of Personal Security | Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 5 Security Education

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What is a peer group?

2. Mention three examples of peer groups.

3. State four positive influences of peer groups on a child’s personal security.

4. Mention four negative influences of peer groups.

5. State three ways good friends can help one another stay safe.

6. Mention four qualities of good friends that children should choose.