Lab Safety
Teaching the importance of safety in the science laboratory is a necessary part of the curriculum.
By Lynsey Peterson
At the beginning of the school year, I usually end up losing my voice. There is no other point during the year that I talk as much as those first few days. Like all teachers, I spend time explaining the course and my procedures. As a science teacher, I also need to review the scientific method and explain the lab safety requirements for the course. Lab safety is often perceived as common sense, and often it is. Unfortunately, students often forget their common sense and may act silly, which can actually be very dangerous in certain lab situations. For these reasons, I find lab safety to be an important part of the introduction to my class.
The challenge with lab safety is to make it interesting and engaging so that the students will really pay attention and remember these rules throughout the course. Many students think they already know lab safety and tune out, and others haven’t yet tuned in because they are distracted by the new and old friends around them. I have dealt with this problem by making a PowerPoint presentation with humorous and interesting graphics that relate to each lab safety rule. I give students a handout with blanks in certain places so that they have to fill in the blanks as we discuss each rule.
Next, I have pairs of students work together to create a poster, skit, or video illustrating the importance of one rule. Students present their projects to each other, and for homework, I have them write a story about what happened to someone who didn’t follow lab safety rules. By now, we have mentioned the rules three times in three very different ways. Teachers everywhere know that repetition is necessary to get your point across!
Of course, you will always need to emphasize certain safety rules before you begin each lab, but with the introductory unit firmly in their heads, your students will remember what to do, what not to do, and why. Try some of these ideas and worksheets below to teach lab safety to your students.
Lab Safety Activities and Worksheets:
Students create a list of lab safety statements in small groups. They share their lists with the entire class and the entire group decides on at least seven rules, with accompanying reasons for using proper lab safety.
In this lab safety worksheet, students use an illustration of students in a lab classroom to complete 10 short answer questions about what they see as safe and unsafe lab procedures.
In this safety procedures worksheet, students answer questions about eye safety, broken glass safety, lab area safety, chemical safety, fire safety and chemical disposal safety.
Safety in the Science Classroom-Contract
In this safety contract worksheet, students read about safety rules and safety equipment in the laboratory classroom. Students read 21 points and read about the results of violating any part of the contract. Students and their parents sign and date the contract and check a box if they wear contact lenses.
