Science Safety and Classroom Science Safety and Classroom Management PlanManagement Plan

By: Cara GormanBy: Cara Gorman

Science Safety Goal 1Science Safety Goal 1

Follow all directions- written or verbal. Follow all directions- written or verbal. Ask questions if you are unsure about Ask questions if you are unsure about

anything.anything. Make sure all lab materials are prepared Make sure all lab materials are prepared

ahead of time. ahead of time. Use materials and equipment correctly.Use materials and equipment correctly. Be sure to wear all appropriate lab materials Be sure to wear all appropriate lab materials

(Ex: goggles when working with any (Ex: goggles when working with any chemicals) chemicals)

Science Safety Goal 2Science Safety Goal 2

Be alert at all times. Be alert at all times. Find the teacher as soon as your are unsure Find the teacher as soon as your are unsure

about anything.about anything. If you are hurt, say, “Code one, Code one!”If you are hurt, say, “Code one, Code one!” Make sure to tell the teacher about ANY Make sure to tell the teacher about ANY

accident (if something breaks, spills or is accident (if something breaks, spills or is hurt). hurt).

Be aware of what you are doing and working Be aware of what you are doing and working with at all times. with at all times.

Science Safety Goal 3Science Safety Goal 3

Keep yourselves and the lab area tidy.Keep yourselves and the lab area tidy. Make sure to wash your hands before and Make sure to wash your hands before and

after every lab.after every lab. Clean the lab area before the experiment Clean the lab area before the experiment

takes place and once the experiment is takes place and once the experiment is complete. complete.

Materials should be thoroughly cleaned after Materials should be thoroughly cleaned after use. (For instance, wash out graduated use. (For instance, wash out graduated cylinders or pipettes.) cylinders or pipettes.)

Methods of ImplementationMethods of Implementation

Goal OneGoal One: Part of the lab grade (10 points) will be : Part of the lab grade (10 points) will be based on how well the students have followed based on how well the students have followed directions and were prepared. directions and were prepared.

For instance, I will implement this method in the For instance, I will implement this method in the M&M lab, which uses M&M’s and different colors M&M lab, which uses M&M’s and different colors of paper to simulate animal habitats. Unless the of paper to simulate animal habitats. Unless the students pay close attention to the directions of the students pay close attention to the directions of the lab, they will not understand that the paper lab, they will not understand that the paper represents the habitat, M&M’s are the prey, and represents the habitat, M&M’s are the prey, and the students are the predators. The understanding the students are the predators. The understanding of each lab component is imperative to the of each lab component is imperative to the students’ overall understanding of the lab. students’ overall understanding of the lab.

Methods of ImplementationMethods of Implementation

Goal TwoGoal Two: I will ask one student from each lab group to : I will ask one student from each lab group to simulate the right way to handle a graduated cylinder for simulate the right way to handle a graduated cylinder for measuring and ask another to hold the cylinder upside down measuring and ask another to hold the cylinder upside down with one hand. with one hand.

Thus, I will leave it up to the members of the group to correct Thus, I will leave it up to the members of the group to correct the students’ improper use of lab materials. I will then be able the students’ improper use of lab materials. I will then be able to assess how well the students understand the importance of to assess how well the students understand the importance of being alert at all times. I would like the students to be proactive being alert at all times. I would like the students to be proactive about potential risks in the lab and therefore should be able to about potential risks in the lab and therefore should be able to help remind one another of proper lab behavior.help remind one another of proper lab behavior.

If the students do not understand the importance immediately, If the students do not understand the importance immediately, I will explain the risks involved in not handling materials I will explain the risks involved in not handling materials improperly. For instance, I will use the example from EDUC improperly. For instance, I will use the example from EDUC 140 when the glass from our Cartesian diver broke. 140 when the glass from our Cartesian diver broke.

Methods of ImplementationMethods of Implementation

Goal 3Goal 3: I will give each lab group a sticker on a chart : I will give each lab group a sticker on a chart in order to keep track of how well each group in order to keep track of how well each group maintains cleanliness in the lab. maintains cleanliness in the lab.

I will implement this during the “Construct a Habitat” I will implement this during the “Construct a Habitat” lesson where the students will be able to utilize an lesson where the students will be able to utilize an array of materials in order to simulate the importance array of materials in order to simulate the importance of how a habitat enables an animal to survive. of how a habitat enables an animal to survive.

I will decide how well the students implement the I will decide how well the students implement the tidiness goal throughout the lab, which will determine tidiness goal throughout the lab, which will determine whether or not they receive a sticker. whether or not they receive a sticker.

Thus, the students will tangibly be able to keep track Thus, the students will tangibly be able to keep track of how well they maintain cleanliness in the lab area of how well they maintain cleanliness in the lab area or what they need to improve upon.or what they need to improve upon.

Animal Use: Animal Use: Connection to Goal 2 and 3Connection to Goal 2 and 3 During the “Habitat Lab,” the students will have the During the “Habitat Lab,” the students will have the

opportunity to observe a temporary classroom pet opportunity to observe a temporary classroom pet and it’s habitat.and it’s habitat.

Goal 2:The students will have to be aware of the Goal 2:The students will have to be aware of the proper way to hold the rabbit. For example, the proper way to hold the rabbit. For example, the animal should be picked up by the neck (Teaching animal should be picked up by the neck (Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School Science in Elementary and Middle School Classrooms, 411.)Classrooms, 411.)

Goal 2: The students should treat the animal in a Goal 2: The students should treat the animal in a very polite fashion by not provoking the animal. (For very polite fashion by not provoking the animal. (For example: no teasing, poking or handling improperly.) example: no teasing, poking or handling improperly.)

Goal 3:The students should also be sure to wash Goal 3:The students should also be sure to wash hands before and after handling the pet. hands before and after handling the pet.

Chemical Storage &Chemical Storage &Proper Waste DisposalProper Waste Disposal

Students will understand the importance of properly handling chemicals, Students will understand the importance of properly handling chemicals, especially those that are hazardous.especially those that are hazardous. A wood cabinet will store all of the hazardous chemicals, such as A wood cabinet will store all of the hazardous chemicals, such as

acids or corrosives. acids or corrosives. All chemicals must be properly labeled and stored according to color All chemicals must be properly labeled and stored according to color

cap, which classifies the various types of acids. cap, which classifies the various types of acids. All chemical bottles will be place bottles without checks and periodic All chemical bottles will be place bottles without checks and periodic

checks will ensure the bottles are in good working condition. checks will ensure the bottles are in good working condition. Chemical bottles must be placed in plastic or rubber containers before Chemical bottles must be placed in plastic or rubber containers before

being transported to another place. being transported to another place. Chemicals should be dispensed from a smaller container in case a Chemicals should be dispensed from a smaller container in case a

spill occurs. spill occurs. All chemicals should be poured or measured in a designated All chemicals should be poured or measured in a designated

dispensing area. dispensing area. Clean up materials should be readily available.Clean up materials should be readily available. Citation: Safety Fax. Citation: Safety Fax.

First AidFirst Aid

The goal in this classroom is to be proactive about safety precautions in order to The goal in this classroom is to be proactive about safety precautions in order to prevent potential accidents from occurring.prevent potential accidents from occurring.

In the event that an accident arises, I will use First Aid to help protect you from In the event that an accident arises, I will use First Aid to help protect you from potential harm. potential harm. Goal 2Goal 2: Remain calm and alert the teacher immediately by saying, “Code : Remain calm and alert the teacher immediately by saying, “Code

One, Code One!” One, Code One!” The teacher will utilize a First Aid Kit in order to stop bleeding, an emergency The teacher will utilize a First Aid Kit in order to stop bleeding, an emergency

eye wash station if needed for eye injuries or will be able to take the student eye wash station if needed for eye injuries or will be able to take the student to the necessary care station, whether at school or on a field trip.to the necessary care station, whether at school or on a field trip.

Thus, it is imperative for the teacher to be aware of where to find the first aid Thus, it is imperative for the teacher to be aware of where to find the first aid resources and more importantly how to maintain a calm environment in order resources and more importantly how to maintain a calm environment in order to properly adhere to the safety precaution and eliminate an classroom full of to properly adhere to the safety precaution and eliminate an classroom full of anxiety ridden students. anxiety ridden students.

For instance, the students will take a field trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo For instance, the students will take a field trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo as part of the “Homes and Hideaways: Habitat” lesson. If one of the students as part of the “Homes and Hideaways: Habitat” lesson. If one of the students becomes hurt or is allergic to an animal we encounter, then I need to make becomes hurt or is allergic to an animal we encounter, then I need to make sure the student is taken to a care station immediately. Furthermore, it is sure the student is taken to a care station immediately. Furthermore, it is imperative to make sure the students are calm and are left with a imperative to make sure the students are calm and are left with a dependable chaperon. dependable chaperon.

Enforcement of Clean Up: Enforcement of Clean Up: Goal 3Goal 3

As stated earlier, I will help my students visualize As stated earlier, I will help my students visualize how well they maintain a tidy classroom by providing how well they maintain a tidy classroom by providing a sticker for each time a lab is done properly.a sticker for each time a lab is done properly.

The group with the most stickers at the end of the The group with the most stickers at the end of the semester will receive a prize or a 5 point bonus semester will receive a prize or a 5 point bonus towards a science test or assignment (students’ towards a science test or assignment (students’ choice.) choice.)

This will help motivate the students to clean the lab This will help motivate the students to clean the lab area thoroughly before and after completing each area thoroughly before and after completing each lab. lab.

Furthermore, the students will feel as though their Furthermore, the students will feel as though their efforts are valued and gives the students the efforts are valued and gives the students the opportunity to constantly improve their efforts.opportunity to constantly improve their efforts.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Flinn Scientific's Student Safety ContractFlinn Scientific's Student Safety Contract.. Batavia, IL: Flinn Scientific, Inc., 2001.Batavia, IL: Flinn Scientific, Inc., 2001.

Goal One: Contract Rules 2 and 27Goal One: Contract Rules 2 and 27 Goal Two: Contract Rules 13 and 28Goal Two: Contract Rules 13 and 28 Goal Three: Contract Rules 9 and 16Goal Three: Contract Rules 9 and 16

Krajcik, Joseph S., Charlene M. Czerniak, and Carl F.Krajcik, Joseph S., Charlene M. Czerniak, and Carl F. Berger. Berger. Teaching Science in Elementary andTeaching Science in Elementary and MIddle School ClassroomsMIddle School Classrooms. 2nd ed. New York:. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003. 411-413. McGraw Hill, 2003. 411-413. Safety Fax!Safety Fax! Batavia, IL: Flinn Scientific, Inc., 2001. Batavia, IL: Flinn Scientific, Inc., 2001.