Hot Glue Gun Ages

[vmi...@rssnyc.org]

Hi all, 

I'm curious to what age level you begin to use hot glue guns with in elementary? I am planning an activity with 4th graders and want to make sure it won't be a complete disaster!

Best, 

Vanessa Miller

Director of the Creation Lab

Rodeph Sholom School 

New York, NY

[Gina Marcel]

Hello Vanessa,

I use glue guns in the 2nd grade. First, I have a session where the children get to touch all parts of the glue gun before it is ever turned on or plugged in. After that, I have the students develop the class safety rules and the consequences for not following rules. I also have students work in pairs. One student is using the glue gun while the other is making sure safety rules are being used and no one is coming to distract or interrupt their partner. 

For peace of mind, I have heat resistant gloves that I purchased on Amazon for about $10 a pair. They sell them in kid sizes.

All the best,

Gina

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Gina Marcel

Primary Technology Integrator

The School at Columbia University

556 West 110th St., New York, NY 10025

Pronouns in Use: She, Her, They

[Diego Fonstad]

Don't forget that Glue Dots are also a nifty (burn-free) alternative for many applications that would otherwise use a hot glue gun...("Glue Dots" is a trademarked name so if you see "Balloon Glue" on Amazon and wonder if it is the same, it is... )

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[Corey McGuire]

Almost anyone can use a low temp hot glue gun.  For students being first introduced, keep cups of ice water handy for any accidents.

Make sure you are using low temp guns and low temp sticks.  These sticks melt around 250°f.  This is hot enough to burn, but not instantly. If quickly quenched, the students should walk away with only mild irritation.  Even if quick response first aid isn't applied, it's very hard to cause injury which requires medical attention with low heat glue.

If glue is stuck to skin after quenching, isopropyl causes the glue to separate from almost any surface, including skin.

For older students with hot glue experience, hot melt is a powerful tool.  These sticks melt at 400°f and the glue and tools can cause serious injury but the bonds are stronger and the work time is longer for especially challenging unions.

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[Mark Loundy]

Vanessa,

We use low-temperature hot-glue guns exclusively in our K-5 school. All students are trained in their use and reminded during a mandatory annual safety refresher. All grade levels use them at-will. Burns are not unheard of, but they are rare and minor.

Mark Loundy

Instructional Technology Specialist
Google Certified Educator, Level 2
De Vargas Elementary School
Cupertino (Calif.) Union School District

[Jenny Howland]

We use them K-8. K-4 I make them wear garden  gloves.  I got small Muddy Mate ones on Amazon that I like. 

Jenny Howland

[Corey McGuire]

I would be carful not to use plastic gloves of any variety as they can shrink when exposed to heat and trap the student's hand.

On Mon, Nov 5, 2018, 3:24 PM Jenny Howland <jwheele...@gmail.com wrote:

We use them K-8. K-4 I make them wear garden  gloves.  I got small Muddy Mate ones on Amazon that I like. 

Jenny Howland

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[Ian Riddell]

I have used them as young as Kindergarten, but that was pretty stressful and there were some tears.  4th grade should be fine.  I love the idea of letting them handle the glue guns cold before turning them on.  I always think about giving them lots of room in the workspace (e.g. no more than two students at a work station... four feet in between workstations).  In addition to the danger of burning themselves, they need to be aware of the danger of burning someone beside them.

It's important to get Admin on board with what youre doing.  :)

Students need to be aware of how the glue guns can damage furniture and property (parchment paper is an excellent work surface).

Make them aware that the glue is still hot once applied.  Squeezing glued parts together can cause the glue to seep out from between the parts.  They often don't expect that.

When someone gets hurt, I encourage them to describe what happened for the group.  It helps to uncover unexpected ways that the glue can present dangers.  It keeps everyone's awareness up.  It also helps students to overcome their hesitation and get back to work.

That being said, glue guns can get students building some impressive things quickly.  And are well worth the minimal risks.  Although I have had small finger burns, Ive never had tears in my fourth grade classrooms with glue guns.

I also communicate with parents before we start our work.  Give them an opportunity to respond.  Allow them to "opt out" on their child's behalf.  Invite them to come to the classroom and observe.  This minimizes any problems after the fact if a child comes home with a small burn.  

Ian R.

[Gina Marcel]

+1 everything Ian said. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07776NQ82/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are the gloves we have. No burns -- although a child will say that they were burned. It gets a lot of attention and they have a "cool" story to tell. Our school policy is they HAVE to go to the nurse if they report a burn. That's when the tears come because they have to leave the activity.

Gina

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[Corey McGuire]

Please heat test those gloves.  They are polyethylene which has a melting point between 221°f to 356°f.  Easily within the ranges of hot glue.

<Snip from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene>

For common commercial grades of medium- and high-density polyethylene the melting point is typically in the range 120 to 180 °C (248 to 356 °F). The melting point for average, commercial, low-density polyethylene is typically 105 to 115 °C (221 to 239 °F).

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[Gina Marcel]

Thanks for the info - tested for two years with 66 2nd graders. But definitely there are better products. The children construct the meaning between fire resistant and fire proof. - Gina 

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