Student Project Based Learning ActivityOverviewTitle: Safety in the Science Lab

Goals: The goal of this activity is to provide students with an activity that incorporates technology standards (NETS for students) in to a learning activity that correlates to the Georgia Performance Standards. The standard focuses on lab safety; students examine the proper way to handle the various pieces of lab equipment and chemicals that might be encountered in the science lab. Students also learn the techniques for handling situations that might occur while participating in lab activities. Also included in the lesson are the protocols for identifying and reporting any accident that occurs while in the lab.

Objective: S6CS2. Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations. a. Follow correct procedures for use of scientific apparatus. b. Demonstrate appropriate techniques in all laboratory situations. c. Follow correct protocol for identifying and reporting safety problems and violations

Rationale

Audience: 6th Grade Science students

This unit is designed to teach the importance of following safety precautions while conducting experiments in the science lab. Students will become familiar with the types of accidents that might occur and the proper protocol to follow in the event that an accident does occur.

Prerequisites

6th grade students will be prepared in the event of an accident while performing experiments in the science lab. Those students that display an exceptional understanding of these standards will be chosen to be station leaders for the first nine weeks.

Resources

This unit will primarily be taught in the classroom. Students will be shown PowerPoint presentations, as well as other various documents that provide information about how work in the science lab should be conducted. In order to create the final project for this assignment, students will need access to the following:

Computer lab/internet service/printer

Microsoft Word

ComicLife

Processes

1. Students will be introduced to the lab safety rules that must be followed when completing 6th grade science lab activities.

2. At the completion of the lab safety lesson, students will create a comic strip using ComicLife to illustrate the importance of following lab safety rules and dangers that exist while participating in lab activities.

3. After completing the ComicLife activity, students will write a descriptive summary of the comic. Also included in the summary should be a description of the importance of following the science lab rule that was used for the comic strip and proper protocol that should be followed if there should be an accident in the science lab.

Feedback

Final assessment of the Lab Safety Comic Strip and the Safety Essay will be based on a rubric.