When I started teaching 5th grade, I thought science safety rules weren’t all that important.

I don’t use glass in my science lab, we don’t mix dangerous chemicals, and I wouldn’t dream of using anything that could possibly start a fire!

However, as I gained experience teaching science, I learned that science safety rules are absolutely necessary.

For one, students can injure themselves on almost anything, seriously, you would be surprised.

Second, science safety questions often appear on our state’s standardized test.

I grouped the many science safety rules I used to have posted in my room into five major rules, with a positive twist.

Try these rules out, you will love them!

Science Safety Rules

Be Responsible!
* Take care of your equipment
* Do not run, throw, or grab

Seek Help!
* Follow instructions
* Immediately report all accidents and injuries

Protect Yourself!
* Waft
* Wear goggles, gloves, and aprons
* No eating or drinking

Be Clean!
* Clean your lab station carefully
* Wash your hands

Be Alert!
* Leave the room if there is a fire
* Never use broken equipment

Activities to use when teaching science rules

1. Ask students to think of pretend scenarios in which a student followed the safety rules and in which a student did not follow the safety rules.
2. Have students draw a picture of their science lab with five examples of students following the safety rules.
3. Require students to write the safety rules in their notebooks and sign under them, agreeing to follow all of the rules.

If you are interested, I have created the following science safety unit.

It includes numerous activities to use with students when teaching these science safety rules.

The unit also includes full-color science safety posters to place in your room for safety reminders (they are cheap to print at Office Depot and look beautiful), a safety contract, scenario activities, a scoot game, a safety unit test, and more!