Stay Safe - A Safety Education Guide to Household Chemical Products for Children 5 to 9 years of age

C. … To STAY SAFE (continued)

Classroom Activities - Grade 4

Puppet Script

Purpose

• To introduce the four hazard symbols to younger children while reinforcing the knowledge of the older children

Learning Outcomes

The children will be able:

• To explain the hazard symbols to younger children

Preparation

• Select four or five children to present a puppet show to a group of younger children (their buddies).
• Photocopy the script provided. Make enough copies for each 'presenter' to have one.
• Using the templates provided, have the children create a puppet for each of the four hazard symbols and Radar. This can be done by gluing the templates onto stiffer paper/card and gluing them to craft sticks. Alternatively, glue the symbols onto paper bags or attach to old socks to make sock puppets.
• Locate or create (table with a sheet draped over it) a puppet theatre. Have either pictures of hazardous chemical products or empty containers of hazardous chemical products (securely sealed) for the children to use as props.
• Using the script provided, have the children practise their 'puppet show'.

Note: In many schools the older grades are paired up with the younger children, creating a 'buddy system'. If buddies do not exist in your school perhaps the kindergarten class would welcome a visit from your students and the opportunity to learn from other children!

How to Use

Suggested Script - (students):

Radar: I've brought some helpers with me to talk to you about staying safe.
Would you like to meet our helpers?"

All four puppets appear and greet the children.

Flammable: "Hi!"

Corrosive: "Have you ever seen us before?"

Explosive: "Where?"

Poison: "That's right. We live on the labels of dangerous chemicals."

Grade 4 students Show the younger children some examples using either pictures cut from magazines or actual photos, or empty securely sealed containers.

Flammable: "If you see any of us on a container, it means Danger! Don't touch!

Corrosive: "We are the Hazard Symbols."

Explosive: "Our job is to protect you."

Poison: "Would you like to learn more about us?"

At this point introduce the puppets one by one using the rhyme.

Other grade 4 students should encourage the children to shout Stay Safe at the end of each verse.

Variations

• Use RADAR to introduce the hazard symbols, and to remind the children STOP, LOOK and STAY SAFE!
• If you find it difficult to handle all the puppets at once you may need an assistant. Make sure to use the hazard symbols as the 'bad' group and Radar as the 'good' guy pushing them away.

Rhyme

We're the four hazard symbols.
We're important to know!
There are things we can tell you
Please listen. Don't go!

This skull and crossbones means Poison! Beware!
Don't drink me! Don't touch me!
Get a grown-up.Take care!
STAY SAFE!

I am Corrosive!
I'll burn all your skin!
Don't touch me, not ever
And then you will win!
STAY SAFE!

Flammable means fire!
This stuff burns hot
Keep me where it's cool
In a nice high spot!
STAY SAFE!

Boom! I'm Explosive!
And just like my friend (show Flammable puppet)
Don't put me near hot things
Or Kaboom! That's the end!
STAY SAFE!

We're the four hazard symbols
Don't touch us…Take care.
Just Stop! Look! And…STAY SAFE!

These are samples of the templates to use.The actual templates may be found in Appendix A, Puppets.