A comprehensive school safety program for PreK-2nd grade educators.
For years, schools have asked us the same question:
"How do we teach the Standard Response Protocol to our youngest learners in a way that's age-appropriate, trauma-informed, and doesn't create fear?"
We asked ourselves that question, too.
At first, we imagined creating a video. But every idea led to another question. Animation? Live action? Puppets? (We considered a lot.) So we spooled back. Who’s our audience? Children. What's one of the safest, most familiar moments in an elementary classroom? Story time. And so, Learn From the Helpers: 5 Actions That Keep Us Safe came to life.
The story introduces the five actions of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) through familiar helpers, gentle conversations, and engaging illustrations that help children understand what to do if an emergency happens at school without fear.
While these resources were developed with PreK through 2nd grade learners in mind, they can also be valuable for older students and individuals who benefit from this level of instruction.
Because a book alone isn't enough, we've also developed a complete set of classroom resources to support implementation, including an Instructor Guide with lesson plans, social stories, classroom posters, coloring pages, and more! Spanish translations of the book and supporting materials are available as well.
Together, these resources help educators introduce school safety with confidence while creating a classroom experience that is supportive, reassuring and developmentally appropriate.
The children’s book, lesson plans and activities are presented in a way that isn’t scary for kids! I love that it focuses on the whole child by considering their feelings and following trauma-informed best practices.
Downloadable versions of all materials are made available at no cost. Optionally, you can purchase printed books.
This children’s book introduces the five actions of the SRP through an engaging story designed specifically for PreK–Grade 2+ learners and others who would benefit from this level of instruction.
Download English PDF
Download Spanish PDF
Buy English Hardcover Book
Buy English Paperback Book
Buy Spanish Hardcover Book
Buy Spanish Paperback Book
Lesson plans, discussion prompts and classroom activities designed to help educators teach the concepts introduced in Learn From the Helpers.
This poster was created to print and place on walls to remind everyone of the different SRP actions, and allow teachers to start the conversation about SRP with their students.
Informational SRP handout for schools to send home or email to parents/guardians to explain the SRP, and provide information to parents about student training and how they can support at home.
Informational SRP letter to accompany the Parent Handout for schools to send home or email to parents/guardians.
The Five Action Cards are a visual support for students when teaching each of the actions of the SRP.
Lockdown picture cards are a visual support showing students performing the three steps in a lockdown: locking the door, turning off the lights, and getting out of sight.
This coloring activity is designed to accompany Lesson 1: Helpers and Feelings. Print the pages in black and white, have students color them in, and use them to help students identify helpers in their community.
The Feelings Wheel can be used as visual support when talking about different emotions throughout the school day. These resources can support students who are nonverbal or minimally speaking, and English language learners to communicate how they are feeling.
The Feelings Coloring Activity can be used as visual support when talking about different emotions throughout the school day. These can be printed out in black and white for students to color.
The Rabbit Pose Poster is a visual support for students as you are teaching how to get into Rabbit Pose for the Lockdown or Shelter actions. This poster can hang in the Lockdown area or Shelter area as a reminder for staff and students.
This poster is designed to remind students that during the Hold and Secure actions, learning can continue. It can also support transitions back to instruction following a drill or safety activity.
This social story is a supplemental resource to support and reinforce students’ learning of Hold. It was developed to support students with autism and other learning differences. Horizontal PDF. Print double-sided and fold in half.
This social story is a supplemental resource to support and reinforce students’ learning of Secure. It was developed to support students with autism and other learning differences.
This social story is a supplemental resource to support and reinforce students’ learning of Lockdown. It was developed to support students with autism and other learning differences.
This social story is a supplemental resource to support and reinforce students’ learning of Evacuate. It was developed to support students with autism and other learning differences.
This social story is a supplemental resource to support and reinforce students’ learning of Shelter. It was developed to support students with autism and other learning differences.
These classroom posters demonstrate hand signs, similar to ASL, that can be used to signal different actions in the classroom.
Bringing Learn From the Helpers into your classroom is something worth celebrating. To help you introduce these resources to your school community, we've created a few ready-to-use social media templates. Feel free to copy, personalize, and share them on your school or district's social media channels. Whether you're reading the book to students at the beginning of the school year or introducing the SRP throughout the year, these posts can help families understand how you're teaching school safety in an age-appropriate, trauma-informed way that focuses on the whole child.
To restore and protect the joy of youth through educational programs and positive actions in collaboration with families, schools, communities, organizations and government entities.
