B.C. Grade 6 teacher disciplined after dry ice ‘explosion’ in class

A middle school teacher in southeastern British Columbia has agreed to a two-day suspension of his teaching certificate after he brought dry ice to class, leading to the “explosion” of a water bottle that frightened some students.

A consent resolution agreement between the teacher and the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation says he told Grade 6 students they could handle the “extremely cold” frozen carbon dioxide with their bare hands.

It says one student put dry ice in a water bottle and closed the lid, and it exploded, shooting up into a ceiling tile during the class in October 2024.

The document says some students were scared, including at least one who started crying, with the regulator finding the teacher created an unsafe environment.

It says dry ice can cause cold burns or frostbite on bare skin, and the teacher did not properly supervise the students or follow safety guidelines that people handling dry ice should always wear gloves and safety glasses.

The agreement signed by Commissioner Donnaree Nygard on March 2 says the teacher admitted his actions constituted professional misconduct.

It says there were kindergarten students in the classroom at the time of the incident and the commissioner found the teacher showed “inadequate regard for students’ developmental maturity” as well as their emotional and physical safety.

The teacher also served a 10-day suspension handed to him by the Southeast Kootenay school district, where the unidentified school is located.

The agreement says the teacher had “downplayed” the seriousness of the exploding water bottle in an interview with district officials.

It says he indicated he wouldn’t do anything differently if he taught the lesson again, though he “acknowledged he might feel differently if someone had been hurt.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2026.