My Cart
Your Shopping Cart is currently empty. Use Quick Order or Search to quickly add items to your order!
Did you learn to drive a car by watching the Indy 500? No, you learned by getting behind the wheel and driving your nervous parents’ car away from the curb. Students learn the same way—not in your parents’ car—but from hands-on experience. Science is one of the few teaching disciplines that enables students to actually learn by doing. To make sure the student laboratory experience is worthwhile, I offer tips below garnered from my 35 years of experience in teaching successful science labs.
Training students
Students must know the routine of your classroom. Before conducting the first lab, explain the general lab procedures, and distribute a handout of the procedures (such as obtaining materials, preparing lab reports, and cleaning up) for students to refer to as needed.
Discussing safety
Inform students of the safety hazards and safety requirements of your particular lab and subject. On day one, clearly state rules about goggles and other safety equipment and issues. Require both students and parents to sign a safety contract, which you should then keep on file. Let students know that you have zero tolerance with regard to safety violations. Items such as the brightly colored goggles in Carolina’s Adult Safety Goggles Value Pack can help you enforce safety mandates.
Forming lab groups
There is no set rule for forming lab groups, but doing so is often an issue. Differing dynamics from class to class make standardizing lab group selection nearly impossible. Below are suggestions and comments based on my experiences.
Materials
Keeping your sanity
Perform the lab yourself before doing it in class with students. Preferably, enlist the help of a non-science colleague. Troubleshoot the directions, explanations, questions, etc.
Summing it up
Each year and each class is a new beginning. Remember what worked and what didn’t. Be creative and make the lab experience enjoyable for both you and your students. Visit Carolina at Lab Supplies & Equipment to see everything Carolina offers to support you in the science lab.