Every science teacher should teach middle schoolers about the fundamentals of lab safety. A science classroom is a fun place, but also one that has hazards; this is why it is important to begin teaching about basic lab safety concepts and how to appropriately use lab tools.
In the following list, you will find 20 different resource types for teaching students science safety rules when working in a lab.
1. Laboratory Safety Video
A great video that is engaging and will get students thinking about the different ways they need to be safe in the lab. The video also includes a link to handouts that go along with the video.
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2. Lab Safety Poster Project
For this activity, students will create posters with lab safety slogans. The activity includes rubrics for coming up with good safety rules/slogans.
Learn More: A Middle School Survival Guide
3. Digital Mini-Quiz
Student knowledge of laboratory safety should be tested. You need to make sure that students truly grasp what the rules are and how they apply. The quiz covers basic safety rules.
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4. Digital Safety Activity
Hover over the images of students working in the lab to explore lab safety. The interactive resource allows students to review the different components of what it means to be lab safe.
Learn More: Thing Link
5. Web Page Activity
This website is all about classroom lab safety! It starts out by hooking students with a Farside cartoon, then they proceed through the rules of lab safety by clicking the links at the top. It ends with a built-in quiz.
Learn More: About Lab Safety
6. Lab Safety Rap
A safety video that is sure to get middle school students paying attention! Students will watch a Lego animated video that raps about lab safety procedures.
Learn More: Cameron Lowe
7. Lab Safety Interactive Notebook
Make note-taking fun with this Sponge Bob-themed lab safety precautions bundle. Students will start by reading a story about Sponge Bob and his friends and lab safety. They will take notes on the story and do an acrostic.
Learn More: Ms. Hastings Science and Social Studies
8. Demonstration Lesson
Use this site to look at virtual manipulatives! In this active learning environment, the videos use 3D images that mimic a real lab (but without the hazards). Students can go through the lab learning the rules digitally.
Learn More: Labster
9. Science Safety Contract
A great activity that keeps all students safe and also holds them accountable is a safety contract. This ensures that students understand the rules and that there are consequences if they don’t follow them.
Learn More: Laylah’s Classroom
10. Hands-on Activity
Using pieces of lab equipment, you can teach students hands-on with this safe lab! By using the coffee-making process to demonstrate lab safety and usage of lab tools, you are assured that students will be safe, but learn the content!
Learn More: Real Science Challenge
11. Safety Rule Task Cards
For this engaging lesson, you use place QR codes for each lab station. Students then get the opportunity to explore each station without you talking at them.
Learn More: Mrs. V Biology
12. Lab Rules Reading
Learn the rules of the laboratory and work on reading comprehension at the same time. This pack offers different readings on lab topics that will work on teaching them the rules.
Learn More: Two Teaching Taylors
13. Escape Room Activity
Every student loves an escape room! Teach students about the rules of the lab with this fun group activity. Students will need to know lab safety to make it out!
Learn More: Kesler Science
14. Scenario Activity
Safety scenarios are a good way to make sure students really understand how to be safe in a lab. It gives varying scenarios for different parts of the lab and they must match them with the lab safety rule.
Learn More: A Middle School Survival Guide
15. What is Wrong?
Learn essential lab safety skills like how to correctly use a bunsen burner through this activity. Students will review different safety violations and explain what is going wrong in the image.
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16. Science Lab Safety Charades
This creative activity teaches key terms and rules of lab safety. Students will play a game of charades to learn more about working in the lab. An engaging activity for any middle school science class!
Learn More: Two Teaching Taylors
17. Minions Safety
Make lab safety visible by using a minion! Minions are great examples of what to do (like wearing safety equipment) and what not to do (eat in the lab or drink chemicals) in the lab – plus, kids love them! Use them to help remind students of the basics of lab safety.
Learn More: Holly Snyder
18. Safe vs Not Safe
Students will learn the basic science lab safety by reading about different incidents. They will then determine if they are safe or if it is a broken safety rule.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
19. Color By Number Quiz
If you need to quiz students’ knowledge of lab safety, this color by number is a cute way to get it done. Students will answer a variety of questions and be given a color to use on the color sheet. An easy way to make a quiz a bit more fun!
Learn More: Tes
20. Lab Best Practices
Learning good lab safety is important. In this lesson, students will use cooperative learning to work on best practices in the lab. It also includes note-taking.
Learn More: Kimberly Scott Science
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