Teach/test out safe X-Acto knife use:

• Use sharp blades–need less paower to make the cut
  
  
• Enough room between students
  
  
• Demonstrate scoring or half-cutting forst to make a track for the full depth cut–then go back and finish cutting through the whole piece.
  
  
• Use a "sawing" motion to cut interior curved areas. Demonstrate.
  
  
• Always be aware of the direction the blade is heading when making a cut. Do not have it aiming at a body part.
  
  
• Establish a "blade down" area—the place where it is always placed when it is out of your hands—so it isn't accidently rubbed against. A good place is a tin can with something soft inside to protect the knife tip from breaking.
  
  
• Allow no wide sweeping arm length movements with a knife in hand
  
  
• Use metal edge ruler to make straight cuts (there are rulers with guards on to keep the fingers protected).