Review the Academic Content Standards related to this lesson. Express their current knowledge about common household toxins and offer questions that they would like answered about the prevention and treatment of poisoning by these toxins. Is Found, but at Big Price. Investigate, in small groups, a common household toxin, focusing on what the toxin is, where would one find this toxin in the home, the physical effects of the toxin on the human body, first aid treatment for poisoning by the toxin, preventative measures that one could take to prevent poisoning, and valuable resources about this toxin. Create informational flyers or pamphlets about the household toxins researched in class.
Students then share their answers.
In small groups of three or four students each, students research a common household toxin for the subject of an informational pamphlet. Students may also want to create informational posters to display throughout the school or to distribute their pamphlets to other classes and to families. Students will be evaluated based on written journal response, participation in class discussions, participation in group research, and final group pamphlet about a household toxin. Survey your home for items that are toxic, preventative methods that your family uses to safeguard against poisoning that can occur in the home, and First Aid products that your family owns. Visit a local poison control center or hospital, or interview a staff member from one of these places, to learn about your community s resources and to discuss poisoning and preventive measures.