Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A child in safety goggles and an apron at a classroom table, with a labeled eyewash station and a fire blanket on the wall behind.

Science / All lessons / The Scientist’s Toolkit

Lab Safety

Safe practices and safety equipment, used on purpose.

Lesson 1 of 41

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Before we start

Today’s story

Lab Safety

Think about the last time you cooked or built something. You probably used an oven mitt, or you tied your shoes first. You did it without thinking. A lab works the same way.

Scientists plan for trouble before it shows up. Goggles go on before the liquid is poured. Hair is tied back before the burner is near. A spill gets reported right away, even when it feels small.

Safety is not a list to memorize for a test. It is a set of habits that keep you and your friends whole. Let us walk through the steps and then practice them.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Safety Scavenger Hunt

    20 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Paper and pencil
    • A classroom or a kitchen
    • A parent or teacher
    • Safety goggles if you have them

    Do this

    1. Walk through the room with a clipboard or a sheet of paper.
    2. Find every safety tool you can. Write its name and where it hangs or sits.
    3. Find one place where an accident could happen. Write what you would change.
    4. Practice putting on goggles and tying back your hair.
    5. Act out what you would do if a cup of water spilled near an outlet.
    6. Share your list with the adult and compare.
    Write or draw: A two-column list. Column one is the tool or hazard. Column two is where it is and what it does.

    Watch for: Look for things that are easy to miss, like a cord across the floor or a lid left off a jar.

    Safety: Do this hunt with an adult nearby and do not touch any plug, stove or chemical.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Protect your eyes first

    Eyes cannot be replaced, so goggles go on before anything else.

    Rule 2Tell an adult at once

    A small spill or a cut is easier to fix when help comes early.

    Rule 3Follow the directions in order

    Skipping a step can turn a safe test into a risky one.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    hazard
    Something that could hurt a person or damage something.
    protective equipment
    Gear you wear to keep your body safe.
    procedure
    The steps of a task done in a set order.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

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

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • Which safety habit do you think matters most in a lab? How do you know?
    • What safety rules do your family follow in the kitchen or the barn?
    Did you know

    Goggles for chemistry class must meet a safety standard, so they hold up against splashes and flying bits.

    Someone who does this

    A lab technician follows safety rules every day so tests are safe for everyone in the room.

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