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Think First for Kids



Think First for Kids is a six-week modular curriculum for grades 1-3 that teaches children the importance of safety habits. It is presented in a classroom format and is fully integrated into the elementary school curriculum. Each grade (1-3) has a separate curriculum and array of classroom activities specifically designed for its grade level.

The program is designed to educate students about activities which place them at risk of a brain or spinal cord injury. Think First for Kids covers six areas:

  1. Basic brain and spinal cord anatomy


  2. Motor vehicle safety


  3. Bicycle safety


  4. Playground safety


  5. Violence and conflict resolution


  6. Water safety

Think First for Kids offers the following components:


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  • Curriculum manual with background material, lessons, and exercises.

    • This manual is used by designated instructors to educate students about five distinct areas of activities that place them at risk of a brain or spinal cord injury.

  • "Street Smart: A Think First Adventure"

    • This is a culturally diverse animated safety video that addressed the six safety areas by showing true-life scenarios.

  • Street Smart comic strips

    • These are full color comics that show true-life safety scenarios.

  • Street Smart bulletin board posters

    • The full color posters depict "Street Smart" sharing safety tips with youth.

  • Optional injury prevention storybooks

    • Elvin: The elephant who forgets;It Wasn't My Fault;Office Buckle and Gloria; and Your Move.

  • Low-cost, CPSC-certified bicycle helmets.


The six-week curriculum is the most comprehensive brain and spinal cord injury prevention program available. The Think First programs were identified as an example of a best practice in the category, Comprehensive Community Based Prevention Strategies, by Life Span Adaptation Projects, University of Toronto, in July 2000.

Our goal is to help students develop safety habits that will minimize their risks of sustaining a brain or spinal cord injury. Our intent is to make the learning experience fun, yet meaningful, and to involve not only teachers, but also parents and the community.

For more detailed information about the Think First for Kids progam, please visit the National Think First web site at


To schedule Think First for Kids in your school, please contact Think First Oregon at (503) 494-7801 or e-mail thnkfrst@ohsu.edu.


Satisfied teachers share their experience of the Think First for Kids Program:

"Thank you for the wonderful Think First Program.
It was so beneficial to our students."

"The curriculum is very thorough
and is very well presented."
ThinkFirst Oregon, Oregon Health & Science University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L603, Portland, OR 97239-3098
Phone: (503) 494-7801 Fax: (503) 494-5627 E-mail: thknfrst@ohsu.edu

by thnkfrst@ohsu.edu