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Lab Safety

Lab Safety in Elementary Science

1. Avoid activities that put the safety of children at risk.
2. Be sure teachers are trained in basic first aid techniques.
3. Instruct students to report to the teacher immediately any personal injury, damage to clothing, or equipment that appears unusual or functions abnormally.
4. Train students in the use of science supplies or equipment before they are allowed to handle them, especially any sharp instruments.
5. Provide eye protection devices and instruct students to use them during any activity that involves a potential risk to eye safety.
6. Instruct students in the location and proper use of eye baths, fire extinguishers, and any other safety equipment that is available and that might be needed in the science area.
7. Minimize the use of chemicals.
8. Highly corrosive or volatile materials should not be kept in the elementary school.
9. Store chemicals and dispose of chemical waste material in a manner prescribed by state, federal, and school district regulations.
10. Potentially harmful chemicals, hazardous equipment, or flame used at the elementary level should be handled only by the teacher.
11. Caution students never to touch, taste, or inhale unknown substances.
12. Students with special needs or handicapps should have safe and easy access to science facilities to the extent that is advisable according to their circumstances.
13. Be sure adequate lighting is provided for science activities.
14. Keep electrical wiring, switches, outlets, plugs, etc., in good repair.
15. Provide proper training for students with regard to any living organisms that are to be handled or cared for by them.
16. Store heavy objects on lower shelves.
17. Use plastic containers instead of glassware whenever possible.
For additional information, obtain a copy of “Safety in the Elementary Science Classroom,” from NTSA, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 22201-3000.

Storing Science Materials

Here are some ideas to keep in mind with respect to storing science materials:
1. Each item should have a home. Exactly where it is located is less important than knowing where it is. If you always return in to the same place when it is not in use, your chances of knowing where to find it the next time you need it are greatly enhanced.
2. Frequently needed items should be stored in your classroom or nearby, if possible, to save time and minimize the number of trips to storage areas.
3. Science materials should be stored in locked facilities if possible; especiallly materials that are costly and difficult to replace such as magnets, weather instruments, etc.
4. Storage closets with plenty of shelf space and drawer space are wonderful. If available, science materials can be categorized and kept in these closets for easy access.
5. Filing cabinets serve well for storing science materials. Use locking cabinets when possible.
6. Boxes also work out well for storage space. Select strong boxes, and try to settle on two, three, or four specific types and sizes. Use boxes that stack well, minimizing space required for them and making it easier to keep them neat and tidy. Apple boxes, for instance, are strong, and if you stay with the same brand they will be uniform in size and will stack well. Boxes are often free of charge at grocery stores, but an offer to pay a small amount for them can greatly increase their availability.
7. Sub-categorize similar items in drawers, cabinets, boxes, or in plastic bags (the zip-closed type are nice.) Bags have a distinct advantage over small boxes because they take up only as much space as the items inside them, whereas boxes consume just as much storage space if they are empty as they do it they are full.
8. Plastic dairy food containers and empty film cans are very useful for storing small materials.
9. Mailer tubes can be used to store posters. They also work nicely for storing such things as
dowels or other long items. Short pieces of electrical wire can be folded and stored within tubes or they can be wrapped around the outside of the tube and secured with masking tape. Include paper towel tubes and toilet tissue tubes in your collection; you will find that they will accommo date electrical cords and many other items.
10. While commercial kits have the advantage of providing many materials and saving the time of acquiring them, they also usually include many materials that teachers never use. They are also very costly. Teacher-made kits have the advantage that they contain only the materials the teacher will actually use, thereby avoiding the use of funds and space for unnecessary materials.
11. Prepare a list for each box, drawer, shelf, or other storage area to make it possible to locate items when needed. If there are many materials, it is helpful to have two lists. One list identifies the items in each container; the other is an alphabetical list of materials that identifies the location of each item.
12. Number your boxes, or label them very clearly for easy reference from your materials lists.

Process Skills | Homework | Misconceptions in Science | Commonly Used Materials in Science | Science Lab Safety