Poison Prevention Week
Help students learn more about how to prevent accidental poisoning during National Poison Prevention Week, March 14-20. Each of these activities meets a variety of state and national standards for technology and core subject areas.
Grades K-2
Show children the Mr. Yuk symbol, used to identify poisons around the home. Also show children the previous skull and crossbones symbol, and discuss why it was updated. Then have students use Graphics software to design their own symbol for poisons. Encourage them to create something that immediately shows that the item is dangerous or “yucky.” When they are finished, have students use copy and paste tools in the Graphics program to duplicate their image several times on the page. Then have them print it and take it home, so their parents can tape it to household poisons
EasyTech units: Beginning Graphics, Computer Basics
Grades 3-5
From plants to animals to house and garden supplies, toxic and poisonous substances are everywhere. Have students work together to create a Poison Database. The database should include basic information, an image, a category/classification, and treatment information. Have each student choose three poisonous/toxic items, research them on the Web, and then enter them in a database.
EasyTech units: Data and Database Basics, Database Creation Queries and Reports
Grades 6-8
Have students use the Web to research poison prevention and common household poisons. With a digital camera, have students take pictures of poisons they find in their homes. (If a digital camera is not available, have them find images on the Web.) Then have them create a multimedia presentation to share information on poison prevention. Half of the class should create their presentation for an audience of parents with young children. The other half should create their presentation for an audience of younger students. The presentation should include information, poison prevention tips, and reminders of the common household poisons (using their digital photos) and how they should be made safe. Share the presentations with the class, and discuss how the way the information is presented varied for the two different audiences.
EasyTech units: Web Browsing, Presentation Software
