Title: Poison!
Grade Level: 2
Subjects: Health and Science
Sunshine State Standards:
HE.2.B.1.2: “Understand the meaning of warning labels and signs on hazardous products”
(FLDOE, 2010)
SC.2.N.1.1: “Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them in teams through free
exploration and systematic observations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those
explorations” (FLDOE, 2010).
National Health Education Standards:
NHES 1: “Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention
to enhance health” (CDC, 2008)
1.2.4: “List ways to prevent common childhood injuries” (CDC, 2008).
NHES 7: “Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce
health risks” (CDC, 2008)
7.2.2: “Demonstrate behaviors that avoid or reduce health risks” (CDC, 2008).
Materials: The classroom should be arranged into stations or tables such that three or four
students can access each table or station. The following items should be present at each station:
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1 empty, sealed* bottle of bleach (or a similar cleaning product that contains warning
labels)
1 empty, sealed* canister of RAID (or a similar pesticide that contains warning labels)
1 empty, sealed* bottle of antifreeze (or a similar automobile product that contains
warning labels)
1 empty 24oz or less bottle of vegetable oil
1 empty, sealed* bottle of children’s vitamins
1 empty box of dried mashed potato flakes
6 clear, 8 oz disposable plastic cups
o Label one cup “bleach” and fill it with 1tbsp of vinegar
o Label one cup “RAID bug spray” and fill it with 1 tbsp of vinegar
o Label one cup “antifreeze” and fill it with 1 tbsp of vinegar
o Label one cup “vegetable oil” and fill it with 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
o Label one cup “crushed children’s vitamins” and fill it with 2 tbsp baking soda
o Label one cup “mashed potato flakes” and fill it with 2 tbsp potato flakes
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8 tbsp of additional baking soda in a small container labeled “Poison Tester 1”
2 tbsp of additional vinegar in a small container labeled “Poison Tester 2”
2 measuring spoons (1 tbsp) – one for the vinegar (Poison Tester 1) and one for the
baking soda (Poison Tester 2)
One data sheet per student (included at the end of this lesson)
One procedure sheet per table (included at the end of this lesson)
*Please note that these items can be sealed with super glue or craft glue. Students should not be
able to open these containers.
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to identify common poisonous household substances.
2. The student will be able to identify colors and labels that are associated with poisonous
substances.
3. The student will be able to develop a hypothesis regarding which substances are
poisonous and which are not.
4. The student will be able to work with three or four classmates to conduct an inquiry and
collect data on a provided worksheet.
5. The student will be able to identify ways to avoid poisonous household substances.
Background Information:
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The teacher should discuss the Scientific Method with students, giving a special focus to
the formation of a hypothesis and collecting data.
The teacher should discuss science safety procedures with students, including policies for
eating, touching, and smelling the substances.
The teacher should discuss common household chemicals and medicines and where they
may be found in the home.
Procedure:
1. The teacher will review the scientific method, laboratory safety procedures, and common
household chemicals with the students.
2. The teacher will explain the lab procedure as follows:
a. Students will form a hypothesis regarding which substances are poisonous and
which substances are not poisonous. Students should write their hypotheses on
their worksheet. Sample hypothesis: If I add the poison tester (baking powder) to
the bleach, bug spray, and vegetable oil, then something will happen to show that
these chemicals are poisonous.
b. Then, students will visually observe the substances, paying close attention to their
labels, and record their observations on their worksheet.
3.
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c. Next, students will carefully pour two tablespoons of baking soda into the cup
labeled “bleach”. Students should record their observations on their worksheet.
d. Students will then add two tablespoons of baking soda into each of the “RAID
bug spray”, “antifreeze”, and “vegetable oil” cups, making sure to observe and
record what happens in each case.
e. Next, students will add one tablespoon of vinegar each to the cups labeled
“crushed children’s vitamins” and “potato flakes”. Students should observe and
record what happens in each cup.
f. Students who finish early can work on writing a brief conclusion about which
substances are poisonous and which are safe.
The teacher should explain that the vinegar and baking soda in the cups represent the
actual chemicals. The teacher should emphasize that students should not use this method
to actually test for poisonous substances in their own homes.
The teacher will split students into groups of three or four students and send each group
to a table.
After the students have recorded all data and completed the experiment, the teacher will
reconvene the students and record the class’s findings on the board to facilitate students’
conclusion-making process. (A class data sheet is provided at the end of this lesson.)
Finally, the teacher will engage students in a class discussion to guide them towards the
correct conclusions.
a. Correct Conclusions:
i. Poisonous substances often have a warning on the front and safety
information on the back. These labels are sometimes red or yellow and
have symbols such as a triangle around an exclamation point.
ii. Some poisonous substances, such as medicines, are not marked as
poisonous.
iii. Some common poisonous substances include bleach, bug spray,
antifreeze, and children’s vitamins (in large amounts).
b. Sample guiding questions:
i. What did you observe about the substances? Did you notice if they had
anything in common? Is there something on the poisonous substances that
tells us that they are poisonous?
ii. Which substances are poisonous? Explain your answer. (The student
should support his/her answer with observations that he/she made of the
actual substance labels and the chemical reactions.)
iii. Based on what you have observed, how do you think you can identify or
avoid substances in the future?
Extension/Modification:
Students can perform a poison safety check of their own homes by identifying 5 poisonous items
within their homes and noting their locations, with their parents’ assistance. The emphasis should
be on examining the label of the item to determine if it is poisonous and asking a trusted adult
when the student is unsure. This activity can be followed up in a brief class discussion and
review about poison safety.
Poison! Science Experiment
Procedure:
1. Write your hypothesis on your data collection sheet. If you
need help, discuss your ideas with your group.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons of Poison Tester 1 into the “bleach”
cup. Observe what happens. Record your observations on
your data sheet.
3. Pour 2 tablespoons of Poison Tester 1 into the “RAID
Bug spray” cup. Observe what happens. Record your
observations on your data sheet.
4. Pour 2 tablespoons of Poison Tester 1 into the “vegetable
oil” cup. Observe what happens. Record your observations
on your data sheet.
5. Pour 2 tablespoons of Poison Tester 1 into the
“antifreeze” cup. Observe what happens. Record your
observations on your data sheet.
6. Pour 1 tablespoon of Poison Tester 2 into the “potato
flakes” cup. Observe what happens. Record your
observations on your data sheet.
7. Pour 1 tablespoon of Poison Tester 2 into the “potato
flakes” cup. Observe what happens. Record your
observations on your data sheet.
8. If you finish early, write your conclusion about which
substances are poisonous and which are not poisonous on
your data sheet.
Poison! Data Collection Sheet, Part 1
First, write your hypothesis on the line below. Hint! Your hypothesis should be
have the words “if” and “then” in it.
Hypothesis:________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Next, follow the steps on the Procedure Sheet and record your data in the chart
below.
Item
Bleach
RAID Bug
Spray
Antifreeze
Vegetable oil
Children’s
Vitamins
Potato Flakes
What do you observe about the label?
Poison! Data Collection Sheet, Part 2
Item
Bleach
RAID Bug
Spray
Antifreeze
Vegetable oil
Children’s
Vitamins
Potato Flakes
Describe what happened when you tested for poison.
Poison! Class Data Collection Sheet
Teacher: Use this sheet to record the entire class’s data and a brief summary of their
observations. This sheet should be used to help students validate their results, discuss any
discrepancies, and draw conclusions about poisonous household substances.
Item
Bleach
RAID Bug
Spray
Antifreeze
Vegetable oil
Children’s
Vitamins
Potato Flakes
Did something
happen when
you tested for
poison?
What happened when you tested for
poison?