Activity 16: Spot the Stranger

Purpose

  • To engage participants in a discussion about what they could do if, when traveling without an adult, they were approached by someone  

  • To talk participants through a decision-making process about how they could handle themselves if, when traveling without an adult, they were approached by someone  

Materials

  • Tokens or plastic/paper chips  

Instructional Considerations  

  • Praise participants who make the correct choice, “Good job on making the safe choice, Lin.” “What made you choose this person?”  

  • Educate participants who make the incorrect choice, “Remember Taylor, if you have not met the person before they may not be a safe person.”  

Location

  • Large open space which is free of obstacles  

Things to Observe

  • Participants are making proper decisions.

  • Participants are engaged in the activity and playing according to the rules.

  • Participants are asking questions if they are confused or do not understand.

  • Participants are engaged and comfortable in this learning environment. 

Safety Considerations

  • Ensure activity area is clear of any objects that participants could injure themselves on.

  • Participants will be moving with the small chips so it is important to instruct them to hold the chips securely in their hands. Stress the importance of picking up any loose chips that may end up on the floor or ground.  

Guidelines

  • At the beginning to the activity, you will ideally have a number of people to help you, but if there are none you can enlist the assistance of a few participants. The helpers will be assigned a role to play as either a safe or an unsafe person (for the activity only). The helpers will be given specific identities and will be instructed to approach the participants according to the role they play.  

    • For example, a safe person may be playing the role of a school teacher and will approach the participants and say something like, “Hello, it’s Mrs. Smith, your teacher. Do you need any help?”  

    • For example, an unsafe person may play the role of a stranger and will approach the participants and say something like, “Hello, can you please help me find my cat?”  

  • Once the helpers know their roles, you then must hand out 3 tokens or chips to each participant. You will tell them to walk around the area and meet the safe and unsafe people. Participants will then have the option to talk to the person or to report the individual to the “official” (you on the side of the playing area).  

  • If the participant feels the approaching person is safe and makes the right choice in talking to them, the participant will receive a token.  

  • If the participant makes the decision to talk to an unsafe person, they will have one of their tokens taken away.  

  • If the participant notices that an unsafe person has approached them, the participant is to report that person to the official.  

  • If the participant reports an unsafe person successfully, they will receive a token.  

  • The object of the game is to accumulate as many tokens as possible without having any taken away.  

Debrief  

  • At the end of the activity, debrief with the participants. Ask them to respond to these questions:

    • How can you tell if a person is safe or unsafe?

    • What are some things you can do if you or someone you know is being bullied?