Poison Safety (3rd & 4th Grade)

Call  800-222-1222

Poison prevention education can be a lifesaver. Approximately 60 percent of all poisonings occur in children under the age of 6. Therefore it is important to teach this age group the basics in poison prevention. Although teaching parents of these children is important, this program focuses on teaching the children themselves to follow very simple prevention techniques, as well as what to do if a poisoning occurs.

The goal of this lesson is to educate children on what poisons are, how to stay safe from potential poisonings, and what to do if a poisoning occurs.

For additional info on our education program, contact Sherrie Pace

Lesson Plan Overview

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • relate what a poison is-during a group discussion.
  • name at least three places in the home where poisonous items might be found (kitchen, bathroom, garage, yard etc) during a question and answer period.
  • demonstrate knowledge of how to stay safe from poisons-by memorizing the phrase “don’t touch, taste, or smell something that could be poisonous”.
  • give three or more examples of household poisons during a question and answer period.
  • relate what to do if someone is poisoned.
  • distinguish between poisonous and nonpoisonous items-during an interactive game and a worksheet activity.

Materials

  • Poison Adventure video, runtime 20 min. (optional); download here
  • Magnets and telephone stickers (order form)
  • Look-a-like display
  • Smiley Face game
  • Poison Ladders or Poison Word Search
  • Parent letter
  • Household guide to Poison Control
  • Certificate of Completion

Note: Materials and instructions for each item can be found in the appendices of the full lesson plan.

Content Outline

  1. Introduction
    1. Introduce self
    2. Explain purpose
  2. Definitions and Concepts
    1. Poison
    2. Prevention
    3. Why
  3. Look-A-Likes
    1. Discussion
    2. Question and Answer
    3. Look-A-Like Display/Products
  4. Video (Optional)
    1. Poison Adventure
  5. Phrase Memorization
    1. Phrase memorization
  6. Game
    1. Smiley face game
  7. If Someone is Poisoned
    1. Tell a grown-up
    2. Poison Center
  8. Worksheet Activity
    1. Poison Ladders
    2. Poison Word Search
  9. Conclusion
    1. Magnets and Telephone Stickers
    2. Parent Letter
    3. Household Guide to Poisons
    4. Certificate of Completion
  10. Appendices
    1. Look-A-Like Display
    2. Smiley Face Game
    3. Poison Ladders Worksheet
    4. Poison Word Search
    5. Parent Letter (English)
    6. Parent Letter (Spanish)
    7. Household Guide to Poisons
    8. Certificate of Completion

Lesson Resources

Brochures & Posters
Download Full Lesson Plan (PDF)
Order Form for Magnets & Stickers (PDF)