Safe and Sound
Teaching kids safety can be fun, especially with a keyboard and mouse.
Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 12/1/1999
Kids' safety lessons don't have to be boring, for them or for you. All the sites in this month's column include valuable safety information written especially for kids, along with self-scoring quizzes, real-time games complete with sounds, and printable pages to color. The sites also offer lesson plans, activities, and information for teachers and parents.
Safe Cruising Just for Kids
www.ctw.org/parents/safecruising/index/0,3656,justforkids,00.html
PreS-Gr 1-A play-and-learn site teaching pre-readers and new readers about car seats, bicycle helmets, and outdoor safety. Sponsors: Children's Television Workshop, Ford Motor. Don't Miss: The interactive "Elmo's Road Trip" and other safety games, Sesame Street coloring pages, and more Elmo stories. Detour: The Safe Cruising site for parents at www.ctw.org/parents/safecruising/0,1193,,00.html, for safety quizzes, tips for traveling with kids, safe outdoor activities, and lots more. A "must-visit" site! Required plug-in: Shockwave.
The Otto Club
www.ottoclub.org/otto/supreme/index.html
PreS-Gr 1-Pre-readers and new readers can learn car, bicycle, and pedestrian safety. Sponsor: California State Automobile Association. Don't Miss: The Store's "Dress Up Game," the Light House's "Safety Light Game," and "Safety Hopscotch" in the Fun House. Detour: The Parents & Teachers page at www.ottoclub.org/otto/supreme/parent-teacher/index.html. Required plug-ins: Java, QuickTime, Flash.
Safety City
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/kids/index.html
Gr 3-6-Crash-test dummies Vince and Larry take kids on a city tour that covers bike, school bus, and car safety. Sponsor: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Don't Miss: The "Safety School" challenge... it's tougher than you think! The Bike Tour section, the "EMS Quiz," and the four cool safety videos. Detour: The Teachers' Lounge at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/kids/safeschool/teachers/index.html for lesson plans. Required plug-ins: Java, QuickTime. Optional plug-in: Intel Indeo.
Poison Prevention
www.ipl.org/youth/poisonsafe/kjump.html
K-Gr 3-A simple, clickable primer on poisons and poison safety. Sponsor: Internet Public Library, American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy, University of Michigan. Don't Miss: "Pick Your Poison" and "Poison Scramble" games, plus the six print-and-color pages. Required plug-in: Shockwave.
Captain Kidde Page
www.kidde.com/kiddesafety/pages/youthpag.htm
K-Gr 8-Fire prevention and safety activities for kids. Sponsor: Kidde (maker of fire extinguishers). Don't Miss: The age-appropriate versions of the "Protect Your Home" game. The "Hands Off" game for pre-readers on the Stop, Drop & Roll page. The interactive, age-appropriate "Home Safety Checklists." Detour: Lessons at www.kidde.com/kiddesafety/pages/teachers.htm. Required plug-in: Java.
FEMA for Kids
www.fema.gov/kids/icons.htm
Gr 3-8-Kids can have fun while learning about natural disasters and how to prepare for them. Sponsor: Federal Emergency Management Agency. Don't Miss: In the Games section, the cool "Kidz Rap" and the Java games; the "What Did You Learn" quizzes found all over the site; and the Web and print resources from the Library. Detour: The U.S. Fire Administration's Kids Page at www.usfa.fema. gov/kids/index.htm for fire safety information. Required plug-ins: Java, RealAudio. Optional plug-in: Acrobat.
Sparky the Fire Dog
www.sparky.org
Gr 4-8-Kids who like fire engines, firefighters, and Dalmatians will love this site. Sponsor: National Fire Protection Association. Don't Miss: The fire drill in the Help Sparky Out section. The "Spot the Dalmatian" and "Dalmatianize" games in the Dalmatians section. Drive a fire engine in the "Get Out of the Way" game in the Fire Trucks section. Required plug-in: Shockwave.
