Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A smiling girl in safety goggles at a classroom table with a beaker of water, a ruler and a tray, sunlight from a window.

Science / All lessons / The Scientist’s Toolkit

Safe Scientists

The rules that keep every investigation fun.

Lesson 1 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Safe Scientists

Tess sits down at the table. A tray, a cup of water and a pair of goggles wait for her. She wants to start right now.

A good scientist stops first. She listens to the plan. She asks what could go wrong. Then she puts on the goggles.

Safety is not a boring part of science. It is what lets you keep doing science. The steps below give you the habits.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Safety check walk

    20 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Safety goggles
    • A cup of water
    • A paper towel
    • Paper and pencil
    • A tray

    Do this

    1. Look around your room with a partner.
    2. Find the eyewash, the fire exit and the place goggles are kept.
    3. Draw a simple map of your room and mark each one.
    4. Pour a little water into a cup on the tray.
    5. Spill a few drops on purpose, then wipe them up the right way.
    6. Write one safety rule in your own words.
    Write or draw: Your map with three marks, and your own rule.

    Watch for: Notice how a tray catches the drops. Planning ahead makes mess small.

    Safety: Use only water in this activity and tell an adult before you start.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Ask an adult for heat, knives and electricity.

    These can hurt you fast.

    Rule 2Tell the teacher when something spills or breaks.

    Glass and wet floors are easy to fix when someone knows.

    Rule 3Wash your hands when you finish.

    Tiny bits of mess can stay on your skin.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    goggles
    Eye covers that keep splashes and bits out of your eyes.
    safety rule
    A plan that keeps people from getting hurt.
    spill
    Liquid that goes where it was not meant to go.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • What is one safety rule you will remember? Why?
    • What safety rules do your family follow in the kitchen or the garage?
    Did you know

    Many lab rules come from real accidents. Scientists wrote them down so the next person would be safe.

    Someone who does this

    A lab technician follows safety rules every day to keep a hospital or school lab safe.

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