1. Science Safety: Plants in the Classroom

2. Key Question
What precautions should I take when using plants in the classroom?

3. Purpose of Plants Plants serve both decorative and learning purposes
Useful for observation, measurement, classification, and experimentation

4. Classroom Plants
Ensure that students never eat any part of an unknown plant
Including seeds and berries
This includes plants on the school grounds and plants seen during events such as field trips

5. Classroom Plants
Help students understand the difference between edible and non-edible plants, vegetables, and fruits

6. Plants to Avoid
Plants containing toxins should not be present in classrooms
Plants that contain toxins when eaten
Examples include azaleas, lantana, delphinium, iris, pokeweed, tansy, hemlock, foxglove, jimsonweed, dieffenbachia, philodendron, caladium, buckeye, and belladonna

7. Plants to Avoid Plants that have toxic sap
Examples include oleander, poinsettia, and trumpet vine
Plants that are toxic to touch due to oils
Examples include poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac

8. Plants to Avoid
Plants that have edible parts, but also have inedible, toxic parts
Examples include potato leaves and sprouts as well as rhubarb leaves
Teach students to avoid touching all types of mushrooms found outdoors

9. Plant Poisoning and Allergies
Symptoms of plant poisoning may include headache, nausea, dizziness, sweating, tightness in the chest, vomiting, skin itching or dermatitis
Know who on your campus can recognize toxic or poisonous plants which are commonly found on school grounds (ex. Poison Ivy)

10. Fertilizers Must be labeled and locked in cabinets
MSDS sheets must be posted
Goggles and gloves should be worn when handling fertilizers

11. Experimenting with Plants
Seed Sprouting
Seeds from a grocery store (those for eating) are safer for sprouting activities
Seeds for field planting often have protective, chemical coating

12. Experimenting with Plants
Aquatic Plants
Use caution with aquatic plants especially from ponds or marshes
Avoid direct contact with mud and pond water

13. Experimenting with Plants
Soil Studies
Generally safer to study potting soil
Soil dug up from school grounds or home yards often contains mold and fungi
Use proper tools and safety equipment

14. Sign School Safety Roster
Be sure to understand each of the previous items
Sign the Roster attesting your understanding

15. Reflection Questions
How do the topics in this presentation impact your classroom?
What is one best practice that relates to this topic that you would share with colleagues or our staff?