Teaching Lab Safety

Teaching Science Lab Safety Packet is available here. Click here to see the Table of Contents. The Packet contains over 70 pages of ready-to-run materials covering Safety in the Science Lab. The Packet includes everything you need, including detailed lesson plans, bellwork, worksheets, labs, tests & quizzes, manipulatives, and many Team Game suggestions you can run off on colored paper. Can be purchased as a Download or a CD. Several items from this Packet are also available below at NO CHARGE!

You are welcome to use these ideas in your classroom, within your science department, within your school district, or to distribute to any teacher who may find these lessons useful. I only ask that:
1. You cannot sell these lessons or make a profit on them in any way.
2. You cite the lessons original source, and do not white-out the copyright footer on the pdf files
3. Do not copy and paste lessons onto your website. A link to the original is to be used.
4. Do not claim these lessons as your own work.
NOTE: This disclaimer is modeled after a couple of my favorite websites: The Science Spot and Middle School Science. Thanks, teachers!

Safety Contract Review

Each science district should have a standard safety contract, to be signed by both parents and student. Here's a nice way to review the first day of school: Give each student one minute to jot down any safety rules they remember from last year. Then ask pairs to share. Hand out the contracts. Ask small groups to circle on the contract all they remember as a group. Then ask each group to help you circle remembered rule numbers, which teacher circles on a transparency. Take notice of rules not recalled and go over "tricky" questions. Click here for a copy of our district's contract.

Safety Rules Mind Map

Another good way to review science safety rules is to have your students make on a mind map (or concept map). Ask your students to refer to the safety contract or remember from last year. Draw a circle in the center of a sheet of white paper. Label it,"Science Safety Rules" Draw four lines out from circle (spider legs.) Label the lines with major components of safety, such as fire, eyes, glassware, etc. You could brainstorm this with your students. Then draw "feet" off the legs with a specific rule, paraphrased. Have the students add color and sketches. Thanks to Janet Enloe for this great idea!

Lab Safety Equipment Hunt

Our district requires students to know the location of science safety equipment. Make a worksheet with photos of safety equipment in your classroom. Have students walk around the room, listing the location of each safety item shown on the worksheet. Discuss by comparing their answers to an answer transparency.

Lab Safety Equipment Flashcard Game

Give each team a copy of photos or sketches of the safety equipment in your room, such as: fire extinguisher, fume hood, eye wash, safety shower, etc. Have each student cut them out and clip to Equipment Hunt worksheet when not in use. Play a fun game with partners. Each pair places their set on the table, scrambled together. Then the teacher says, "Put your finger on the eye wash." Or, "Put your finger on the equipment you would use to put out a fire." Each student uses both pointing fingers, so only one of the pair could get both of the eye wash flashcards, for example. When they are down to just a couple flashcards, stop the game and have them count their piles and shake hands with the winner.

Find Someone Who Worksheet

Have students walk around finding students who know the answers to questions related to science lab safety. The "Someone Who Knows" must write the answer and sign their name on the student's paper. Click here.

Safety Procedures Lab

Have small groups of students move from station to station, following the directions on a Labsheet and answering the questions. Set up general lab situations and ask safety-related questions. I use a timer and give the groups about 3 minutes per station.

Safety Scenarios Game

Run off Safety Game Scenarios in six (for six teams) different colors. Laminate. Run off six sets ofyour Science Lab Safety Rules in white. Laminate. To play the game: hand out the same scenario to each team. Hand out a set of Safety Rules Pieces. Teams put their heads together and quietly pick out all the rules that were broken in the scenario. When a team is done, they should say, "Done!" loud enough for all to hear. The teacher writes down team numbers in order of finish. When all teams are finished, the class discusses which rules were broken and why. Different teams may have different inperpretations. That's okay! If first team finished is correct, they are in first place and receive 6 points. If they miss one and the second place team gets all correct, then they change places and points, etc. (Second place gets 5 points, third place gets 4 points, etc.) I do only one Scenario at a time, but you could do several if you have time.

Safety Poster

Assign each student one rule from the safety contract. Use 8 x 11 white paper. Stress Good "Billboard" Guidelines: (2" high letters. Three colors only plus black and white. Very few words - paraphrase rule to shorten. One strong, large picture.) Before collecting, have small groups pick the "best" one, and put on chalk ledge. Have class vote on "best" one. Laminate and post in classroom for the year. Lately, I urge all students to use the computer if they know how to import and/or manipulate images. Our students need to be prepared for the technological future!

Safety PowerPoints

Assign a different Safety Category for each small group, such as eyes, chemicals, fire, etc. Each group prepares a five page or less PowerPoint Presentation. Our librarian will teach any class how to make a PowerPoint. Most will already know how! Sign up for one day in the computer lab if you teach 90 minute blocks, probably two days if less. Each group presents to the class. Lots of fun if you have a smartboard, or large T.V. Screen! Prepare a worksheet for each group to critique and judge the presentations. They could vote for "Best of Show," etc.

Safety Test

Our district requires a safety test, with a 90% or better score. After the above review activities, each student takes the true/false test. Not included here for obvious reasons, but here's a link to a similar test: Click here for an online, self-correcting safety test.

Created by MJKrech
URL: http://www.mjksciteachingideas.com/safety.html
Email: mjkrech@yahoo.com