California Career and Technical Education Standards

• ECDFS.FS.10.1 Understand the decisions and responsibilities involved in parenting in various c...
• ECDFS.FS.10.5 Understand the value and methods of providing infants, children, and adolescents...

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

• ELA.9-10.LS.C.1.1 Formulate judgments about the ideas under discussion and support those judgments...
• ELA.9-10.R.CAGT.2.5 Extend ideas presented in primary or secondary sources through original analysis...3

• Introduction - Hooks / Set

  As students enter the room, they will find a closed, colorfully decorated box on their table. Students will be given instructions to let them know that they may examine the box and try to guess its contents, but they may not open it until told to do so.  

  The teacher will elicit responses from each table group as to what might be in the box, and then allow the boxes to be opened.  Inside each box, will be a toy and a piece of paper that contains questions for discussion.  

  Questions for discussion on the paper will include the following:  Is there anything wrong with this toy?  If so, what might it be?  Has anyone in your group ever had an experience with an unsafe toy?  If so, what was it?  Please discuss and share with your group.  Be prepared to share with the class.

  Suggested toys might include the following:  a broken toy or one with missing parts, a very old toy, a stuffed toy with bead or button eyes, a toy with small parts, a balloon, a pull toy, etc.

  • Instruction Sheet 1 [ Download ] Student instructions to be placed in box.
• Lecture/Presentation - Lecture

  Teacher will present short power point presentation and share some facts via LED projector  or overhead projector.  

  Facts to share on Overhead projector:

  • Each year, approximately 217,000 toy-related injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms.

  • 20 toy-related deaths in children were reported in 2005, down to 12 in 2009.

  • In the same year, there were 75,000 toy-related injures in children under 14 years of age.

  • In 2005, 46 percent of toy-related injuries were to the head or face.

  • In the United States, more than 3 billion toys and games are sold annually.

  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports a decline in toy recalls from 172 in 2008 to 50 in 2009 and 46 in 2010.  Of those, lead recalls were down to 3 in 2010 from 9 in 2009 and 19 in 2008.

  • HOW

  • Many toy-related deaths are caused by choking, drowning, a motor vehicle incident, or strangulation.

  • Small play balls and balloons account for many choking deaths.

  • Riding toys including un-powered scooters and tricycles are associated with more injuries than any other toy group. In 2005, more than 58,000 injuries to children were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries sustained from a riding toy.

  • Who

  • Children under age 3 are high risk for choking on toys.

  • Males account for more than 58 percent of all toy-related injuries.

  • Children under 8 years of age are at a higher risk for choking on un-inflated or broken latex balloons.

  • Toy Selection and Safety presentation [ Download ] Power point presentation
  • Facts for LED or overhead presentation [ Download ] Facts About Toy Related Injuries
• Video presentation - Other

  Toy Safety and Selection Informational Video

  • TIA toy safety and selection video [ Go to Site ] This video, created by the TIA, is a tour through a toy store while discussing safety concerns and issues to consider when buying toys for children.
• Evaluating Toys using a choke tube - Group Work
  Students will examine the child's toy again, using a "choke tube" (you may substitute  an empty toilet paper roll for the choke tube) and new instructions.

   

  Instruction sheet #2:

  "Please examine your toy while considering the following questions.  Each student should hold the toy, look at it, and examine it while discussing the questions with the group.  After your group has determined whether the toy is safe or not, write your answer (safe/unsafe) on this page, along with a brief explanation."

   

  Questions for Instruction sheet #2:

  1. Are there pieces that are smaller than 1-5/8” in diameter and/or 1-1/2” in length? Students will be instructed to use choke tube or toilet roll to check for small parts.
  2. Does the toy have any sharp edges or points?
  3. Are there any breakable pieces or parts?
  4. Is it made of toxic materials or does it have any parts in or on it that are made of toxic materials?
  5. Is the toy electrically operated with heating elements?
  6. Is the toy battery operated?  If so, does the battery cover have a locking mechanism?
  7. If there are any fabric products on the toy, is the fabric flame retardant or flame resistant?
  8. Does the toy have any long cords or strings attached?

  Students will discuss the questions and answers within their groups, then write "safe" or "unsafe" on the instruction sheet. 

  Teacher will ring a small gong to end this opening piece of the lesson and bring students back to attention.         

  • Instruction sheet Two [ Download ] Questions and instructions for group activity
• Group Presentations - Closure

  Groups will share their toys with the class and explain their findings with regard to the safety questions from Instruction Sheet #2.  A brief class discussion will follow after each group's presentation, allowing for student and teacher feedback.  

  Teacher will show students websites that provide information on recalled toys as well as information on how to report an unsafe toy.

   

  • toy safety resource link [ Go to Site ] This site provides toy safety information for various ages and stages of development as well as information on how consumers might report unsafe toys.

No resources are included, yet.