ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Teaching Safety to Children

I'm going to be teaching a couple 4th grade classes in their science unit on electricity. It'll be a very short presentation (30m).

Any tips on a few major safety points for that age?

Thanks,
Dave

Downed power lines warnings... And anything done by Ben Franklin is not wise to attempt. The effects of electricity on the body. (The light version, No scorched flesh. ) Then some therory....

That will put you at the bell for recess.



[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 01-25-2006).]

I found that with that age group just asking how many have had a shock opens the discussion to what they did wrong and what they learned. Kids teaching kids, you just keep them on track.
Almost all 9 year olds have been shocked. Some of their stories are really scary. The 120 V. bare rod in the ground to catch worms comes to mind.
I emphasis to them that the only difference between a shock and death is the intensity and duration.
Alan--

Many POCO websites have a child safety link. You could look at some of them for ideas. Here's a link to one in my area.
http://siouxvalleyenergy.apogee.net/kids/safe.aspx

Edited the link - I pasted the wrong one - here's the right one

[This message has been edited by Helectric (edited 01-25-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Helectric (edited 01-25-2006).]

I searched the archives but couldn't find a previous post. Anywayz, as I recall, bring in a continuity tester that buzzes and/or lights and ask the kids if they think various things are good conductors or bad conductors. I had some oddities like a thousand watt metal halide lamp, 600kcmil compact 4 conductor with ground MC cable, inch and five eighths coax, and a chunk of 345kv/2222a cable to show how big some stuff gets.

I did a class for some 2nd graders last year and the thing they liked the best was when I put on my 40cal/cm2 flash suit and hood.

Also power line safety (Downed lines, kites, etc) should always be covered.

If you have a hipot you can draw some arcs and cook a hot dog with it, but you have to make sure to talk with the teacher about establishing a safe area.

Mention the things they are not supposed to do... such as.

That getting a stuck piece of toast out of a toaster with a fork can be very bad.

That electrical boxes are not real good places to hide things.

That washing walls with a hose that contains plugs does not work.

That a sandwich in a VCR, from that commercial on the tube, is not a real good idea.

Light bulbs, and other sources of electrical heat energy are not meant to dry your wet socks or any other material.

That drying your hair while still in the bath tub to save time or that a ghetto blaster on the sidewall of the pool is real dangerous.

Kids at that age are very "visually oriented" go see a contractor and grab a piece of arc flash damaged gear to impress upon them how dangerous it can really be. Kids oftern think we tell them stuff for no reason... this will reinforce the fact that we are not just telling them this because you are an "adult", it is because there is "really" something to be careful with.

[This message has been edited by Rick Kelly (edited 01-26-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Rick Kelly (edited 01-26-2006).]

Tiger,

Electrical Safety Foundation has some handout info that can be downloaded:
http://www.electrical-safety.org/esfilib/isub.php?l0=esfilib&l1=index

Bill

Ha! Ghetto blaster, I havent heard that one since the 80's

There's some pretty cool stuff here also

SDG&E Kid Safety

There are activities you can download and print on safety and energy saving as well