How will you teach safety?

Safety is a serious issue that effects the daily flow of the science lab. Depending on how you introduce it, you can impact students in such a way that keeps it in their minds for an hour, a day or a year. So...what are your ideas for teaching safety? I'll start by sharing mine.

I teach science lab for 2nd -5th grades. All students must have a safety contract signed by both their parent and themself in order to participate in the hands-on. This has been a great deterrent to severe accidents for the past few years.

• Second-graders are introduced to the safety rules by stuffed animals. These animals just can't seem to remember the rules, though. Each student gets an opportunity to "catch" an animal breaking the rule. The student explains what is wrong, demonstrates the correct rule, and puts the animal in Time Out. Oh the drama!


• Third grade puts their analytical abilities to the test as they observe a mime (me) conducting a scientific investigation. In their table groups, they discuss what the scientist did correctly and incorrectly. Then one student reports their findings to the class. They then create posters advertising the science safety rules. These posters are hung inside and outside the lab to help everyone remember the rules.


• Fourth grade act out various scenarios. The other table teams indicate when a rule is broken. It takes a few minutes, but those interpersonal learners really get into this.


• Fifth-graders work in teams of detectives to solve crime scenes involving broken science safety rules. They collect evidence, write a report and convince the district attorney (lab teacher) that they have a case. Once the DA agrees, they present their case to the judge (classroom teacher) for a verdict and a grade.

What are your great ideas? Please share!