Workplace Lesson Idea: Safety on the Job

Safety at work relies on being able to read and understand signs and warnings, as well as the proper use and naming of safety gear. This lesson reinforces common safety vocabulary.

• Student Handouts: Safety Cards and Bingo Board.
• More Signs
This site is on a slow server, but if you have patience, you will find photos of more than 700 signs here.
• For more tips see Key Vocabulary for a Safe Workplace New Readers Press, Lesson 1, pp. 6 –9; Lesson 2, pp. 10-13; Lesson 3, pp. 14-17.

• Help your students identify and understand all the safety concerns of their particular workplaces.
• Warm-up: Ask students what they know about safety on the job. Write their responses on the board.
• Target Vocabulary: caution, warning, danger, wet floor, fire extinguisher, rubber-soled shoes, apron, hair net, etc.
• Using the Safety Cards handout, have students talk about who uses these items, why the items are used, whether they use the item or know someone who does, where signs are posted, etc.
• Have students write sentences about safety answering the questions above. Use the handouts or write about their own workplace.)
• Play Picture Bingo to practice the vocabulary:
  • Print or copy as many Bingo Board blanks as you have players.
  • Write the key words and phrases from the handout in a different, random order in the Bingo squares of each board.
  • Cut out the individual picture squares from the Safety Cards handout and write the corresponding key word or phrase on the back of each one. These will be your Bingo cards.
  • To play, you will need some sort of markers, such as jelly beans, or small squares of colored paper. Each player starts with one marker on the FREE square. Shuffle the bingo cards, and turn them over one at a time. The players must identify the picture with the correct key word or phrase, and if it appears on their Bingo board, place a marker on that square. The winner is the first person to complete a row.