Educating Students about Drug Use and Mental Health - Grade 1: Expectation 2

Grade 1 Overview

Expectation 1

2

3

Specific Learning Expectation

Identify (e.g., from their symbols and labels) medicines and household products that are harmful to the body.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

(Resources/Materials needed: Pictures of four danger symbols, examples of containers which carry the danger symbols.)

1. Define a hazardous product:

"Products that may cause harm if they are not used properly or the danger symbol(s) is ignored."

2. Activity: (adapted with permission from Drug Abuse Prevention Project: An Educational Resource (1996), Toronto District School Board, former Board of Education for the City of York)

• Display various containers (dish soap, cleaners, bleach) and have children look at the different symbols.
• Include containers of medicine and discuss how, if used improperly, medicine can make you feel sick, also.
  
  • Poison:
    Key Words: MAKE SICK OR MAY KILL
    Things with this symbol can make someone very sick if they eat or drink it; may cause death. Store away from food, out of reach of children or pets.
  • Corrosive:
    Key Words: EAT THROUGH
    Things with this symbol can hurt eyes or skin, cause blisters, eat away skin. Store away from food, out of reach of children or pets.
  • Flammable:
    Key Words: BURN UP
    Things with this symbol can catch on fire easily and can cause burns. Store away from sources of heat or flames.
  • Explosive:
    Key Words: BLOW UP
    Things with this symbol can explode or blow up especially under pressure. Flying pieces of metal and contents can hurt you. Store away from heat and flame. Do not puncture the container.
• Have children look at all the different symbols and ask why these symbols are on the products and their possible meanings.
• Create a "fill in the blank" worksheet on danger symbols for students to complete.
• Complete one of the following activities:

(a) In groups, have children classify various containers and why the substances could be harmful (could be harmful to the body because...1. poison, 2. flammable, 3. explosive, 4. corrosive, 5. trusted adult not there to help).

(b) Have children make their own danger symbols on flash cards. Children may then work with a partner to review the importance/meaning of the symbols.

(c) Have children work in groups and list possible harmful substances-draw pictures, make collages using magazine pictures, make posters to display danger symbols and their meaning.

Assessments of Learning

1. Discussion of why there are symbols on hazardous products or medicines

2. Discussion about defining symbols

3. Graphic/visual organizer

4. Sorting activity or picture-drawing/poster-collage of a harmful substance you might find at home

Rubric for Levels of Assessment
 

Level 1: Needs assistance to recognize and identify medicines and household products that are harmful to the body. Level 2: Recognizes and identifies products with several minor errors. Level 3: Recognizes and identifies products with a few minor errors. Able to communicate this information with few errors using appropriate terminology. Level 4: Recognizes, identifies and communicates information about medicines and hazardous products with practically no errors. Uses appropriate and varied terminology

 

Additional Resources

There are some additional resources listed at the end of this document. You may also check with your local school board, public health office or call the central information numbers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:

• R. Samuel McLaughlin Addiciton and Mental Health Information Centre 1-800-463-6273
• Video Reference Desk:  416-535-8501, ext. 6987
• Marketing Department (kits and pamphlets, etc.):  1-800-661-1111

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