Science Safety & Classroom
Management Plan
Natalie Fuller
EDUC 140
Goals for Science Safety
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As a teacher I think it is important to first use judgment in planning and participating
in safe science investigations. This includes providing instruction on how students
need to be “safe scientists” when conducting experiments, as well as having the
needed supervision for all science activities.
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3 Goals for Science Safety Include:
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Making safety a part of everyday science. This includes having safety posters
around the room and having students sign a safety contract.
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Reviewing possible safety concerns before each activity, including the use of
goggles, no eating or drinking and washing hands properly. Teach students to
safely handle and use equipment. Especially in the Elementary classroom it is
important to substitute plastic for glass when possible. It is also important to
follow the statewide and school standards. All student allergies/special needs in
classroom set up and instruction. And there should be enough space for
students to work safely.
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Giving accurate time for clean up and waste disposal. This includes teaching
students how to do this and why it is important.
Methods of Implementing Plan
Method #1: Making safety a part of everyday science.
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Safety Contracts – Students will in the first week of school receive a student
safety contract which holds each student responsible for their behavior during
experiments in the classroom. Each time a demonstration is done the rules
from the safety contract will be read to remind the students of the rules. As a
teacher I feel it is also important to remind students of the responsibilities that
go along with participating in hands-on science learning.
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Safety Posters – There will be a variety of posters promoting safety during
science procedures, including a reminder for students to wear goggles, handle
animals with care, and clean up procedures. This will allow students to be
reminded of the information discussed in their safety contracts as well as the
benchmark lessons on safety in the classroom.
Methods of Implementing Plan
Method #2: Safety Concerns in the Classroom
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The Use of Protective Gear: In the classroom it will be expected that all students must
wear the necessary “gear” to keep themselves and others around them protected. This will
include wearing goggles at anytime that chemicals, glass, or heat is used, even when
boiling water in the classroom. Students must follow this rule or they will not be aloud to
participate in the science experiments.
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A benchmark lesson could be used in order to teach students about the importance of
using goggles. Students will learn from the teacher important reasons why goggles must be
worn when participating in science experiments. In the lesson students will be asked to
look at 4 different pictures of science experiments and be able to explain to the class why
goggles should or should not be worn and why. This will allow students to realize the
importance of science safety in the classroom and allow students to think of the “why” in
their own way. Students will share with the larger class and a list of why safety is important
will be created on poster board to be displayed in the classroom as a reminder of why
safety is important.
Methods of Implementing Plan
Method #3: Clean up and waste disposal.
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It is important for students to understand why proper clean up is important in
the classroom. Students will be told what to do when it is clean up time in the
classroom, where things go, how to properly put things away, and what a clean
classroom looks like. Students will also take place in a mock clean up activity
where the teacher will make a small science" mess” and students will be
instructed to put things away to the correct place.
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For this lesson students will be read the book, Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your
Classroom! In this trade book students will be read a funny storybook outlining
the importance to cleaning up and answer questions such as: why does Mrs.
McBlooms classroom need to be cleaned up? Why is it important for our
classroom to be clean? How can we keep our classroom clean after a science
lesson? What steps do we take?
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See slide # 10 for reward procedure
Animal Use
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Animal use in the classroom is a motivating tool in classrooms and gives
students a sense of responsibility in the classroom as well. These allow
students to form driving questions as well as to investigate information about
these animals.
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Students need to be aware of what animals are appropriate in the classroom as
well as the responsibility that goes along with having animals in the classroom.
The cages should be clean and secure. They should follow the National
Science Teachers Association guidelines.
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Students should be taught not to pick up or touch unfamiliar animals, not to
poke or tease animals in their cages and if they do pick up the classroom pet
they should make sure to wear gloves and wash their hands after touching the
animals.
Chemical Storage
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Flinn Scientific, Inc. supports the philosophy of the Manufacturing Chemists
Association which states: "Chemicals in any form can be safely stored,
handled, or used if the physical, chemical, and hazardous properties are fully
understood and the necessary precautions including the use of proper
safeguards and personal protective equipment, are observed."
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It is important to store chemicals in the proper way, Flinn has a storage unit that
can be bought to store chemicals in the proper way. Flinn also gives the advice
to store minimum quantities as well as separate the most serious hazards.
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Students should be aware of where these are being stored and told not to touch
chemicals without the teacher because it could result in a variety of problems,
they will be locked up but if not under teacher supervision these chemicals are
not to be used!
First Aid Procedures
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First aid procedures should be also shown to students in order to keep all
students safe.
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The red cross is an excellent resource when talking about first aid. I think it
would be great to have a speaker from the red cross in the area come into the
classroom to outline why first aid is important in the classroom and the steps to
take if someone does get hurt. This would be an easy way to gain students
interest and show the importance of first aid.
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Students will be shown where the first aid kit is located in the classroom as well
as to inform the teacher first if anything happens. Accidents sometimes happen
and it is important to treat them properly!
Chemical Spills & Disposal
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Flinn Scientific, Inc. also gives directions to what to do in a spill and how to dispose of the
chemical: “First, remove all unprotected personnel and students away from spill. If the
spilled chemical is volatile, ventilate the area or evacuate. If the spilled chemical is
flammable, remove all ignition sources. Wear personal protection equipment such as
chemical splash goggles, chemical–resistant gloves and apron.
Gently pour sand around the spill and onto the spill. The sand will contain the spill, prevent
it from spreading, and also provide traction if you need to walk over it. Next, pour absorbent
(kitty litter, oil absorbent) around the spill and onto the spill. This will absorb the liquid and
also begin to contain any vapors. For both the absorbent and sand, it is best to gently drop
or sprinkle the spill control material around the spill and then onto the spill to avoid further
spreading. Lastly, if the spill is an inorganic acid or base, apply the appropriate neutralizer
around the spill and onto the spill. The neutralizer needs to be mixed well with the sand and
absorbent to come in contact with all of the spilled chemical—use a plastic broom to mix
well.
After the spill is controlled, the cleanup begins. If the material is warm or still giving off
vapors, ventilate the room and wait before cleaning up. Use a plastic dustpan and plastic
broom to sweep up the now solid mess and place it into large, heavy–duty plastic garbage
or leaf bags for disposal. If at any time during the chemical spill containment or cleanup
step you don't feel comfortable, leave the area and get help.”
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http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/chemicalSafety/cleanSpills.asp
Clean-up Procedures
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It is also important to establish clean up procedures not only for science lessons but all
activities involving scissors, glue or experiments conducted. These should be set up in the
beginning of the year.
I think for the Elementary level it is important to give accurate time for clean-up! This should
be taken into account when planning the lesson!
Students would be instructed when there are 5 minutes remaining to finish discovering their
science concept. To allow students to finish up what they are doing and prepare them for
clean up time.
Following students will be instructed to stop what they are doing and start to clean up.
Students will be rewarded through good behavior during clean up time, after having a
consecutive time of good clean up. Students must ask themselves: is the area around me
clean? Did I put things where they are suppose to be? Am I being quiet while cleaning up?
After the students are done with clean up, I as the teacher will use the “I Spy” method to
see if the students have cleaned up fully. For instance “I spy a paper towel on the floor.”
Students will then finish cleaning up.
After having 50 days of good clean up students will be allowed to have a snack (provided
by the teacher) on that day.
Outside Sources
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Flinn Science Resources
**Website and Packet**
http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/generalSafet
y/stepsProve.asp
Text Book: Teaching Science in Elementary and
Middle School Classrooms. By: Joseph S. Krajcik
Charlene M. Czerniak and Carl F. Berger