Middle School Laboratory Safety WebQuest

Mary H. Mendoza

Introduction

You walk into your lab room and the materials are all set up for a lab.  It could be a physical science, earth science or even life science lab.  Remember this is middle school and you do a little of each of these.  If there was an accident in your science lab, would you know what to do?  What should you do if your lab partner had a chemical on his or her fingers and accidentally rubbed their eyes?  What is the proper procedure for handling broken glassware? The purpose of this WebQuest is to make you aware of the safety procedures that must be followed in the laboratory setting. Learn to avoid dangerous situations in the lab. 

back

Task

It will be your job to learn proper laboratory procedures and share it with your classmates so that they may demonstrate proper laboratory behavior before working in the lab and help them pass a laboratory safety quiz!  Remember you must work together to help each other pass the safety quiz.  Complete the assignments together and make sure everyone in your group understands the information.

back

Process

You will be assigned to a team of four students and complete the following assignments. You must work together to complete all four assignments.  

Assignment 1    Become familiar with Lab Safety Rules and Symbol

Read and follow the links in the resources section of this WebQuest on safety rules and complete the handouts.

Assignment 2    Become familiar with reading an MSDS

Your teacher will assign you a chemical from a list of commonly used chemicals in a middle school lab.  Find an MSDS for your chemical and print it out.

Complete the worksheet provided by your teacher

Assignment 3    Create a Laboratory Safety Project

Create a lab safety poster illustrating 5 major safety rules, or

Create a laboratory safety PowerPoint presentation 10 slide minimum, or

Create and present a skit showing improper safety procedures then another showing correct lab safety procedures

Assignment 4    Create a Laboratory Safety Quiz

12  questions total  and include an answer key

 two multiple choice questions , one short answer questions and one essay question on Lab Safety Procedures

 two multiple choice questions , one short answer questions and one essay question on Safety Symbols 

 two multiple choice questions , one short answer questions and one essay question on MSDS information for a total of 12 questions.

All group members

Become familiar with the safety symbols found inside  the front  cover of your text book and be able to identify them on a quiz

 

back

Resources

Lab safety

Howe High School Science Lab   http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/clab.htm

Safety in the Laboratory   http://www.chem.vt.edu/RVGS/ACT/lab/safety_rules.html

San Pasqual High School Biology Safety Regulations for Students http://www.winterwren.com/biology/handouts/safety.pdf

Lab safety symbols

Chemical classification and Safety Signs   http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/nfpa.htm

NFPA Chemical Hazard Labels  http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/NFPA/nfpa_label.html

Texas Glencoe Science Book Grade 8

MSDS

Where to Find MSDS's on the Internet   http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html

Cornell University MSDS   http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp

MSDS PowePoint http://www.tenet.edu/teks/science/safety/pdf/hazcom/msds.ppt

back

Evaluation

Each assignment will be counted as a daily grade.  The completed WebQuest will be counted as a test grade and prepare you for the science safety quiz you must pass before working  in the lab.  Your team must work together to complete all tasks.

back

Conclusion

If there was an accident in your science lab, would you know what to do?  What should you do if your lab partner had a chemical on his or her fingers and accidentally rubbed their eyes?  By now you should know the answer to these and many other emergency situations which could arise in the lab.  This WebQuest has hopefully helped you become familiar with the need for safety in the science lab.

back

Teacher page

This WebQuest was designed for students in a middle school setting with little or no previous knowledge of lab safety. I use these activities before beginning any labs with my students, usually within the first few weeks of school.  Students are assigned to groups of three or four to complete the tasks, however each student must complete and turn in his/her own handout.  This will hopefully better prepare them for their high school science classes.

The activities are designed to meet the TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS (TEKS)

http://www.tenet.edu/teks/science/stacks/safety/safetymain.html

http://www.tenet.edu/teks/science/stacks/safety/safety_manual.html

Middle School Science  TEKS http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/112-021n.htm

Middle School Technology TEKS http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/ch126.html#s12611

This WebQuest was created by Mary H. Mendoza  COL. John O. Ensor Middle School, Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas

back