Title:  Poison Prevention

Grade Levels:  2nd and 3rd

Subjects:

• Health
• Language Arts
• Technology

• Students will identify poisons that are common in their homes and surroundings.
• Students will identify ways to stay safe around poisons.
• Students will recognize Mr. Yuk and Skull and Crossbones as symbols of poisons.

Duration of Lesson:

• 1 or 2 - 45 min. class periods

Materials:

• Candy:  Sweet Tarts, Good and Plenty, Red Hots
• Medicines:  Tums, Tylenol, Sudafed
• Three clear bottles filled with apple juice, Pine-Sol, and whiskey
• Hand out on lists of poisonous items
• Pictures of Mr. Yuk and Skull & Crossbones
• Mr. Yuk stickers or homemade sticky dot stickers
•  Word search puzzle worksheet
•  Handout on poison prevention for parent

Technology Tools/Courseware:

• Computer
• Internet

Teacher Notes:

•  Make sure students have an Internet User Agreement policy on file.

Procedures:

• Teacher will show various items of candy vs. medicine look alikes and stress how children can easily mistake one for another.  Examples of look-alikes are:  Tums/Sweet Tarts, Tylenol/Good and Plenty, Sudafed/Red Hots.  Questions:  Can you tell which is candy and which is medicine?  How can children find out for sure?
• Teacher will show various bottles and containers of items which may or may not be harmful.  Fill clear bottles with apple juice, Pine-Sol, and whiskey.  Keep the lids on!!  Questions:  Can you tell which bottle is safe to taste?  How can you find out which is which?
• Teacher will address how labels will not always reveal what is inside of the bottle.  Discuss that if items are stored in containers other than what it came in it needs to be clearly labeled.
• Teacher will point out household cleaning products, paint, and other substances.  Discussion will be held with these questions:  How do these products help us?  (Kill germs, clean houses, clean grease)  What could make them a poison?  (eating them, touching them then putting fingers in mouth)  What do we need to do to keep ourselves safe around these things?  (Don't touch, eat, sniff, or inhale them.  Keep them out of your eyes.)
• Students and teacher will discuss what medicines are used for and how their improper use can make people sick.  Questions:  What are medicines for?  (to make us feel better when we are sick)  How can medicines be poisons?  How can they make us sick?  (Taking too much,  taking them when we don't need them, taking someone else's medicine)  How can you stay safe around medicine?  (Take medicine only when a responsible adult gives it to you.)
• Teacher will hand out a list of commonly found poisons in the home and garage.
• Teacher will lead students to an Internet site to see if students can identify poisonous items in a home.
• Students will look at pictures of Mr. Yuk and Skull and Crossbones.  Discuss what they mean and where they are found.  Students will take Mr. Yuk stickers home to put on poisonous items.  Students could make their own by drawing frowny faces on sheets of sticky dots.
• Students complete word search puzzle.
• Teacher passes out Poison Prevention worksheet to be taken home for the parent.

• Special needs students will be permitted to work with a partner as needed. Also, individual IEPs will be followed.

Enrichment Activities:

• Teacher and students will discuss the 911 system.  Students will practice calling 911 and giving the correct information on a play phone.
• Teacher may run off the Poison Prevention coloring book for students.

•  Students will be assessed through participation in class per teacher observation.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
 

• Language Arts - 2.11, 2.55, 2.69, 3.1, 3.11, 3.41, 3.42, (Technology) 3.99
• Health - 2.6, 2.7,  2.24, 3.6, 3.24

Language Arts

• Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

• Knows environmental and external factors that affect individual and community health.
• Knows essential concepts and practices concerning injury prevention and safety.

• Understands the nature and operation of systems.

• www.healthteacher.com/lessonguides/injuries/2-3/inj3el23/teaching.asp
• www.bv.net/~stormie/novplans4.htm
• www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson055.shtml

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5