history
in-school presentations
reports/evaluation
Program History
The Farm Safety Centre began “Safety Smarts” delivery in 1998.
Safety Smarts is an established and proven farm safety educational program delivered to rural elementary students in their classrooms. Engaging and age-appropriate farm safety topics including safe play areas, water & ice safety, quad & dirt bike safety, machinery safety, livestock safety, hearing safety and personal responsibility are presented to students both face-to-face in the classroom and virtually via Zoom as students progress from Kindergarten through grade 6.
The 2022-2023 school year is the 25th year of delivery.
Through the decades dedicated regional instructors have engaged with more than 850,000 rural children.
Get more information about grade specific safety topics under
“In-School Presentations“.
Details about program reach and impact can be found under “Reports & Evaluations“.
Over the past 25 years regional instructors have:
Driven
1,893,616 KMs
Visited
7,702 Schools
Presented to
42,213 Classrooms
Reached
851,699 Children
Safety Smarts Historical Delivery
School Year Face to Face Delivery |
Children Reached | Notes / Comments |
1998-1999 | 2,230 | First attempts at in-school delivery |
1999-2000 | 4,228 | |
2000-2001 | 4,374 | |
2001-2002 | 4,564 | |
2002-2003 | 5,695 | |
2003-2004 | 5,835 | |
2004-2005 | 6,219 | |
2005-2006 | 16,778 | Expanded reach – southern Alberta |
2006-2007 | 25,419 | |
2007-2008 | 30,434 | |
2008-2009 | 47,611 | Expanded reach – entire province |
2009-2010 | 52,420 | |
2010-2011 | 55,480 | |
2011-2012 | 64,920 | |
2012-2013 | 52,529 | |
2013-2014 | 57,551 | |
2014-2015 | 51,144 | |
2015-2016 | 67,150 | |
2016-2017 | 65,575 | |
2017-2018 | 58,329 | |
2018-2019 | 59,984 | |
2019-2020 | 40,662 | COVID school closures mid-March |
2020-2021 | 18,533 | Reduced delivery during the COVID pandemic. Introduction of virtual presentations via Zoom |
2021-2022 | 37,226 | Presentations are delivered both virtually & face-to-face |
2022-2023 |
Presentations for Rural Schools
Regional instructors use farm machinery models, pictures, short videos, and personal experience to introduce the children to farm safety. “One Seat One Rider” is emphasized.
“What Could Happen?” scenarios are discussed.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in kindergarten.
“To Stay Safe, Play Safe” is emphasized.
Farm machinery models are used to visually highlight specific hazards. The children go on a visual “Hazard Hunt” which identifies potential hazards which could be found on a working farm.
During the visual “Walk About – Talk About” students are taught to evaluate whether specific situations or activities are safe or not. They are encouraged to always ask an adult if they are unsure.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in kindergarten and grade 1.
A tragic personal experience is shared by the parents of a child lost to rural drowning. This video introduces the children to the reality of drowning risks.
A variety of rural drowning hazards are presented and discussed using a game called “Boats Float Bingo”.
Still shots and short video clips, enable meaningful interaction and learning.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2.
The children are introduced to a rural risk they may never have thought much about – hearing safety. This risk is more intangible than those previously discussed and begins a transition into more situational based presentations where children are taught that personal choices lead to real consequences.
Using ear models, posters, pictures, video clips and animations children are shown how the ear works, how sound travels to the ear and how sound is measured. A sound level meter is used to demonstrate different decibel levels produced by machinery, animals, vehicles etc.
Students are taught that sounds that are too loud, for too long, or too often cause sound induced hearing loss. Children help graph the decibel levels/exposure time/frequency of farm sounds. Students get the opportunity to wear ear protectors and measure sounds with a sound level meter.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in previous kindergarten, grade 1, 2 and 3 presentations. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced.
The increased age, experience and learning capacity of these students allows more in-depth discussion. Depending on the class size, either 4 or 5 teams play “Splat” a farm safety jeopardy-based game which encourages discussion and allows reinforcement of a variety of farm safety messages.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in previous kindergarten, grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 presentations. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced.
Throughout this presentation emphasis is placed on decision making, personal boundaries and the importance of prevention. This presentation focuses on rider related falls and collisions.
Students are divided into 4 or 5 teams to play “Don’t Press Your Luck.” This fast-paced game encourages involvement and engages students intellectually as they make assessments and predictions.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered in previous kindergarten, grade 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 presentations. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced.
Emphasis is placed on the impact personal decisions and behaviors have on not only their own safety but the safety and wellbeing of others. Time is spent discussing what influences their decision making. The importance of prevention and their personal ability to control outcomes is stressed.
Using a variety of engagement strategies and tools students learn about the causes and impact of head injuries. Students are invited to experience the challenges of completing simple tasks while dealing with typical concussion symptoms. Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Presentations for Hutterite Brethren Schools
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered previously. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced. Our experienced instructors are mindful of the unique aspects of the Hutterite culture which require a thoughtful and respectful approach to farm safety messaging.
A tragic personal experience is shared by the parents of a child lost to rural drowning. This video introduces the children to the reality of drowning risks.
A variety of rural drowning hazards are presented and discussed using a game called “Boats Float Bingo”. Still shots and short video clips, enable meaningful interaction and learning.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered previously. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced. Our experienced instructors are mindful of the unique aspects of the Hutterite culture which require a thoughtful and respectful approach to farm safety messaging.
The children are introduced to a rural risk they may never have thought much about – hearing safety. This risk is more intangible than those previously discussed and begins a transition into more situational based presentations where children are taught that personal choices lead to real consequences.
Using ear models, posters, pictures, video clips and animations children are shown how the ear works, how sound travels to the ear and how sound is measured. A sound level meter is used to demonstrate different decibel levels produced by machinery, animals, vehicles etc.
Students are taught that sounds that are too loud, for too long, or too often cause sound induced hearing loss. Children help graph the decibel levels/exposure time/frequency of farm sounds. Students get the opportunity to wear ear protectors and measure sounds with a sound level meter.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered previously. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced. Our experienced instructors are mindful of the unique aspects of the Hutterite culture which require a thoughtful and respectful approach to farm safety messaging.
The increased age, experience and learning capacity of these students allows more in-depth discussion. The class is split into teams to play “Splat” a farm safety jeopardy-based game which encourages discussion and allows reinforcement of a variety of farm safety messages.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered previously. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced. Our experienced instructors are mindful of the unique aspects of the Hutterite culture which require a thoughtful and respectful approach to farm safety messaging.
Throughout this presentation emphasis is placed on decision making, personal boundaries and the importance of prevention. This presentation focuses on rider related falls and collisions.
Students are divided into teams to play “Don’t Press Your Luck.” This fast-paced game encourages involvement and engages students intellectually as they make assessments and predictions.
Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.
Regional instructors begin this presentation with a brief review of safety messages delivered previously. Many farm safety concepts are reinforced. Our experienced instructors are mindful of the unique aspects of the Hutterite culture which require a thoughtful and respectful approach to farm safety messaging.
Emphasis is placed on the impact personal decisions and behaviors have on not only their own safety but the safety and wellbeing of others. Time is spent discussing what influences their decision making. The importance of prevention and their personal ability to control outcomes is stressed.
Using a variety of engagement strategies and tools students learn about the causes and impact of head injuries. Students are invited to experience the challenges of completing simple tasks while dealing with typical concussion symptoms. Each child receives a take-home safety reminder to help them discuss farm safety with their families.