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Physical Education

Personal Safety Moves

Overview

Students explore how body language, voice, and movement can communicate confidence and deter threatening situations.

Learning Objective
Students develop body awareness and assertive movement as basic personal safety tools.

Resources needed

  • Open space

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Discuss: what does confident body language look like? (tall, eye contact, steady).
  2. 2 Practise a confident standing position: feet shoulder-width, shoulders back, chin up.
  3. 3 Walk across the space with confident posture — compare to a slouched walk.
  4. 4 Practise a strong clear voice: 'Stop!' 'No!' 'Back away!'
  5. 5 Pairs practice: one approaches, the other uses voice and posture to say no.
  6. 6 Discuss: when should you run rather than stand firm?
  7. 7 Role play: making a safe exit from an uncomfortable situation.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Discuss situations where awareness prevents problems (e.g. not walking alone in dark places).
  • Practise wrist release: how to pull free if someone grabs your wrist.
  • Create a short safety scenario for others to respond to.
More information

Teach: confident, posture, eye contact, voice, boundary, escape. Model confident body language alongside hesitant body language for contrast.

Keep role plays light — focus on awareness and assertiveness, not physical confrontation.

Can students demonstrate a confident stance and a clear assertive voice? Can they explain when to run rather than confront?

No equipment needed. The activity uses only bodies, voices, and space.

Students often think self-defence is about fighting. Reinforce: awareness, confidence, and escape are more effective and safer than physical confrontation.

Personal safety education is particularly valuable in communities where students travel independently. It builds confidence and practical awareness.

Activity details
Secondary Medium 25 minutes no prep Whole Class, Pairs Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Self-defence Awareness Confidence