Creative Ways to Teach Lab Safety Rules
Summer is in full swing, and I hope you are thoroughly enjoying some rest and recovery! This being said, I do want to get a jumpstart on sharing some helpful resources for class startup. Today, I am sharing a collection of my favorite ways to teach lab safety rules! If you are spending your summer doing a bit of prep, this post is for you. Or, if you are still in summer mode, be sure to bookmark this post for later.
Teaching a course that includes a lab component can be such a rewarding experience. Watching students engage in hands-on learning and exploration is incredible. Before the experiments can begin, it’s crucial to make sure students understand and feel confident about lab safety rules. At the same time, I know you’re also going to be juggling learning names, community building, and all the chaos of school startup. And let’s face it, most students would rather jump straight into lighting Bunsen burners than sit through a slideshow about goggles and spills. That’s exactly why I created these resources. To make lab safety engaging, memorable, and fun for your students. Each activity is prepped and ready to use, so you can save time without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re looking to enhance your current safety unit or want a complete, ready-to-teach solution, you’ll find some fun, creative resources to meet your needs!
1. Taylor Swift-Inspired Lab Safety Bulletin Board
First up is my Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelet bulletin board. Bringing science and style together in the classroom! The resource contains 4 provided phrases: “In Our Lab Safety Era,” “Experiment with Kindness,” “Science in Style,” and “Science with Style.” This lab safety rules décor also includes everything you need to bring this concept to life: letters, numbers, safety symbols, beads, and charms. This way you can design your own bracelets, or even have your students supply safety rules for the bulletin board bracelets. All of the friendship bracelet “beads” are black and white, I would suggest printing these letters on white card stock. The remaining plain beads, icon beads and charms look best on colored cardstock. Click here to grab this Friendship Bracelet Lab Safety Rules Bulletin Board.
2. Silly Cartoon Lab Safety Posters
Additionally, these Lab Safety Rules Posters are sure to bring some fun and laughter into your classroom. Illustrated by a talented student artist, each poster takes a humorous approach by showing what not to do in the science lab. The collection includes 12 posters that cover key safety rules such as “No Eating,” “Handle Hot Objects Carefully,” and “Tie Back Long Hair.”
Each poster comes in two versions: one with playful hashtags (like #GeekGogglesOn and #ThisAintNoRodeo) and one without. This way you can choose the style that suits your class. They’re perfect for laminating and using as permanent classroom décor, but they also work wonderfully as a creative launch activity. I often use them to inspire students to design their own safety posters. This makes for a great introductory assignment or engaging hook for your lab safety unit.
These posters also align perfectly with my Lab Safety Slideshow and Doodle Notes, using the same visuals and terminology to help reinforce key concepts across the unit.
3. Lab Safety Slideshow and Doodle Notes
Next up is the Lab Safety Slideshow and Doodle Notes. This slideshow walks students through twelve important lab safety rules. Each slide including a fun visual and description of the rule. The slideshow mimics the visuals and rules in the Lab Safety Posters mentioned above. Two versions are available, one with hashtags and one without. It pairs perfectly with the included doodle notes, which come in three formats: a completed version for extra support or absent students, a fill-in-the-blank version, and a blank version for higher grades, advanced learners or those who may prefer to construct their own notes. You can also choose between colored or black-and-white doodle notes to best suit your classroom printing needs. Students love the mix of visuals and note-taking, and you’ll love how well they retain the information. You can preview and purchase this fantastic resource on Teachers Pay Teachers.
4. Lab Safety Minute-to-Win-It
One of my absolute favorite activities, and ways to teach lab safety rules is the Lab Safety Minute- to- Win-It game. I love this because it gets students moving, and learning in a hands-on and engaging way. My Lab Safety Minute-to-Win-It includes 12 fast-paced game stations that each review a different lab safety rule. Students rotate through each station in small groups, completing fun challenges in one minute or less.
While this activity does involve a little prep time, it’s absolutely worth the effort for how excited and engaged your students will be. All of the materials needed are easy to find (you likely already have them!) It includes all the instructions, game cards, station numbers, and scorecards you’ll need, along with reference photos to help with setup. Best of all, everything is reusable year after year.
5. Lab Safety Readers Theatre
Drama meets science in this fun and collaborative activity. My students absolutely love doing readers theatre. This Lab Safety Readers Theatre activity includes four original skits that walk students through safety concepts in a lively, engaging way. Each script features six to nine characters and takes about three to five minutes to perform. Readers Theatre is designed to require minimal prep, so it is expected that students will be reading the scripts and not memorizing lines.
The skits feature a variety of scenarios: students learning rules from talking lab equipment, hosting a lab-themed news broadcast, participating in a secret agent mission, or competing in a game show. I typically spend two to three class periods on this activity, one-two classes to introduce the activity and prep the skits, and one for performing. You can even invite administrators or younger classes to be the audience, which students always love. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with Lab Safety Readers Theatre.
6. Lab Safety Quiz
Sometimes, a good old-fashioned quiz is exactly what you need! My free Lab Safety Quiz is a simple way to assess student understanding of the lab safety rules. The quiz includes three different versions with ten questions each, plus answer keys.
The quiz covers essential safety concepts like: proper lab attire, avoiding food and drink, handling chemicals safely, reporting accidents, and keeping workspaces organized. It’s short, effective, and a great follow-up to the more interactive activities listed above. The quiz is bundled with my Lab Safety Contract and is available as a free download on Teachers Pay Teachers.
You can also grab the lab safety quiz through this email opt-in. In addition to the quiz, this email opt-in includes: a color by number activity, lab safety rules slide show, doodle notes, lab safety cartoon and safety contract.
7. Lab Safety Contract
One resource I never skip is the Lab Safety Contract. This document outlines the twelve key lab safety rules that we cover in class, and includes a space for both student and parent signatures. It helps keep everyone on the same page and reinforces accountability.
It also serves as a helpful reference throughout the semester if any issues arise. If needed, I simply refer back to the contract. It’s a small step that creates a solid foundation for your lab environment. This contract is included free with my quiz download or through my email list opt-in, which also gives you access to four additional lab safety resources.
8. Complete Lab Safety Bundle
Finally, if you want everything in one place my Lab Big Safety Bundle includes it all. You’ll get slideshows, all three versions of doodle notes, silly cartoon posters, bulletin board decor, coloring pages, the Minute-to-Win-It stations, Readers Theatre scripts, the quiz, the contract, and a safety symbol matching activity.
It’s designed to be plug-and-play so you just have to download, print, and go. This bundle takes the stress out of lesson planning and makes teaching lab safety rules something students actually look forward to.
Start the Year with Lab Safety
Lab safety is one of the most essential parts of kicking off the school year in a science classroom. While it may not be the most exciting unit, it doesn’t have to be boring or tedious. With the right blend of creativity, structure, and fun, your safety lessons can be both impactful and enjoyable; setting a positive tone for the rest of the year!I hope these ideas and resources help make your lab safety unit more effective, and a lot more fun! If you have go-to strategies for teaching lab safety, I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to connect with me on Teachers Pay Teachers or drop a comment below!