Course Title: Advanced Plant & Soil Science (13002100)
Lesson Title: Laboratory Safety
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130.21(c) 1A
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5415#Subchapter A
Lesson Objectives. The student will be able to:
demonstrate at least 90% mastery of safety practices in the laboratory or in field
investigations.
Tools and Equipment

MSDS notebook,

Safety equipment - (eyewash, fire blanket, fire extinguisher, emergency shower, first aid
kit, sand bucket, broken glass container, exits marked, goggles) and common agriscience
equipment - (thermometers, funnels, graduated cylinders, ring stand and ring clamp,
Erlenmeyer flask, beakers, measuring pipet, medicine dropper, dissecting pins, hand
lenses, microscope slides, coverslips, forceps, test tubes, microscopes, Bunsen burner,
petri dishes, test tube rack, scalpel, probe, dissecting needle, dissecting scissors,
dissecting trays, digital and / or pan balances, culture tubes)

Chart size Post-it™ notes

Activity sheet titled “How Safe Are You?” and Teacher Key

Flinn Safety Rules and Safety Contract
www.flinnsci.com/media/396480/safety_contract_ms.pdf

Common Lab Equipment Study sheet (WS)

Safety symbols study sheet (WS)

Eye Protection sign

Activity sheet titled “ Lab Safety Equipment Scavenger Hunt”

Activity sheet titled “ Lab Equipment ID sheet”

Activity sheet titled “Safety Scenario Lab Rotation” and Teacher Key included

Activity sheet titled “ Safety lab quiz” and Teacher Key included
Key Terms / Vocabulary
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheets
Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
Each chemical in the lab comes with a Material Safety Data sheet giving safety information on
the chemical. The teacher must assemble a notebook containing the MSD sheets of all chemicals
used in lab. Before students perform any labs or field investigations this year a study of safety
practices must be reviewed. As an engagement activity, have students perform the “How Safe
Are You”. The students will randomly move around the class finding individuals that can answer
the questions in the squares and sign their name or initial in the square. Depending on the
number of students will determine how many squares each student can answer on an individual
paper. The questions that were not answered will be assigned as homework. Teachers, at this
time hand out the safety rules/ safety contract. The teacher will emphasize any rules and talk
about the due date of the safety contract. The next day have an Answer Station/Stations set up for
the students to check their homework. Students will keep “How Safe Are You to study for the
Safety exam. Finish the engagement with a video from You Tube – AGHS Lab Safety Rap runs
3:24.
Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
Pair students together to move around class to complete Lab Safety Equipment
Scavenger Hunt and Lab symbol ID
Activity/Application/ Student Engagement /Laboratory
1. Place students into pairs, to complete the Safety Scenario Lab Rotation. Teachers will
setup each lab station to reflect the picture of the station.
2. Place the five scenarios on the chart post it notes on the wall. Put students into small
groups, give the students different colored Vis-a-Vis™ pens and allow them to rotate
around the room and write on the charts the correct safety procedures that should
have been followed and what equipment should have been used. After the class has
rotated, the teacher can review and correct any misconceptions. Examples of
scenarios that can be used:

Joe was heating a test tube. He has his glasses on so he thinks everything is
cool. The chemicals are popping. He slants the tube away from his work area
and towards the opposite side of his lab.

Ashley and Megan were absent the first day of the lab and missed the lab
instructions. The second day, they came to class and gathered the lab setup
and watch their classmates are doing, not taking time to read the directions.

Tim broke a beaker. He carefully picked up pieces in one hand and placed
them in his other hand. He then dumped the glass pieces into the class
trashcan and swept the tiny shards into the sink.

Tori’s cuff of her long-sleeved shirt caught fire. She ran to show her teacher.

Mark was excited about today’s lab and began weighing and mixing
chemicals when the teacher was not in the room yet. He spilled some of the
chemicals on the counter and put the chemicals back into bottles with his
hands. His nose itched, so he rubbed it.
Evaluation / Summary
After the review, the students should past a safety lab quiz with at least 90% mastery.
Issue each student a Safety Lab Quiz.
References/Additional Materials / Extended Learning Opportunities/ Enrichment
Lee, Jasper S., and Diana L. Turner. Agriscience. 4th ed. Danville, Illinois: Interstate
Publishers, Inc., 2006
Flinn Scientific Safety Contract with rules. Accessed March 17, 2012 from
www.flinnsci.com/
.
College & Career Readiness Standard
Science IC2.
©Texas Education Agency, 2011