6 Tips for Running Science Labs Smoothly and Safely

Running science labs is one of the best parts of being a science teacher.

Nothing beats the excitement on our students’ faces when they walk into our classrooms, and ask, “Are we doing a lab today?!”

And yet labs can also be a little daunting from a safety point of view, and require a lot of set up.

Today, we are lucky to have the insight of 6 veteran science teachers.

They are sharing their top tips on how to run science labs smoothly and safely, so that we can feel the same excitement as our students on a lab day!

Let’s get straight into these nuggets of wisdom.

Tip #1 – Maintain an overview of the classroom

A photograph of a young teacher in a black blazer and white shirt. They are standing in front of a whiteboard and pointing out towards the classroom. There is a speech bubble that says, “I’m watching you Carole and Kiki…”.

First up, I’d like to share my own tip. This is a piece of advice that got passed onto me by my department head, and it has really stayed with me through the years.

She said that it is vital to maintain an overview of the classroom during science labs.

This literally means finding an area of your classroom from which you can observe your students.

For me, that is in front of my whiteboard. From there, I can step back and observe exactly what is going on.

Because you know SOMETHING is going on!

Labs are exciting, and our students can get a little carried away, whether on purpose, or by accident, e.g. forgetting to use their goggles, or burning items they shouldn’t be with the Bunsen burner…

By frequently stepping back and getting a “birds eye” view of the room, we can spot and call out any dangerous or silly behaviors.

Now, as much as we want our students to be independent learners, they do need our help. So this advice doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go and help students struggling to focus their microscope.

It just means… keep your wits about you.

If we spend 10 minutes helping one pair of students, and not keeping an eye on the rest of the class, the chances are other students are struggling or misbehaving.

Maintain that overview!

Ok, onto tip number 2.

Tip #2 – Use safety contracts

A clipboard is on a desk with a lab safety student form. Text on the left says, “Start safe, stay safe. Implement safety contracts.”. There are various stationary items on the desk.

Starting off the school year with lab safety and equipment sets the tone for the entire academic year. Safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents; it’s about creating a learning environment where students can explore, experiment, and engage in scientific discovery with confidence.

Ana, at Science Is Real, recommends using a science lab safety contract as an essential tool for any science teacher looking to create a safe, organized, and accountable lab environment from day one!

Review and send home a safety contract with your students to collect parent/guardian signatures, emergency contact information, and if the student has any allergies or medical concerns.

Keep this science lab safety contract handy in a file folder for quick reference for when you need it.

Science Is Real offers a free safety contract on her blog as well as some essential steps you can take to ensure safety, familiarize your students with lab and safety equipment, and a lab to practice using equipment to make scientific observations.

Tip #3 – Explicitly teach lab safety

A post-it note says “Tip number 3: Teach Lab Safety” and text below says, “And avoid a classroom that looks like this one…”. There is an arrow pointing to a page of Doodle Notes showing a dangerous classroom environment in which many science lab safety rules have been broken.

Like many other science teachers, Heather from Science from the South believes science is about exploring and investigating the world around us. She says, “What better way to teach science to our anatomy, biology, chemical, environmental science, and physical science students than with a lab?”

Science classroom safety should be prioritized when students work with lab equipment, tools, chemicals, biologicals, and other substances.

However, science teachers cannot assume their students understand all safety procedures; we must teach them to foster a safe and engaging learning environment while exploring and investigating during labs.

For successful science labs, teachers must teach students lab safety and the proper use of lab equipment.

But, Heather says, “Don’t dread teaching lab safety. It’s easy!”

Learn how she teaches lab safety with these seven essential tips for science teachers. You’ll get many practical and ready-to-implement tools for teaching lab safety and equipment in your science classroom.

Tip #4 – Use visual timers

Text against a blue background reads, “Tip number 4: Use visual timers”. A graphic below shows a stopwatch on a browser page. Text to the right of this says, “And make sure the sound is on!”.

Michelle from Secondary Sparks offers her best tip for ensuring your lab stations run smoothly and effectively. This is by using visual timers.

Timers create a clear structure and help students manage their time effectively as they rotate between different activities. If students can see how much time they have to complete a lab station, it creates a sense of urgency and focus.

Using timers also helps to eliminate any confusion on when it’s time to move on to the next lab station and it keeps students from lingering too long at a given station.

It gives students an opportunity to move from one activity to another in a structured way. This keeps the pace of the stations steady and prevents any group from falling behind.

Many smart boards have built-in timers that you can use for this. Make sure that the timer is displayed large on the screen and that a sound goes off when the time runs out.

You should also make sure to give students warnings throughout at the 2 minute mark or 30 second mark so they can begin wrapping up their station for the next group.

If you don’t have a timer on your smartboard, you can project one from your laptop using an online tool like online stopwatch, using a kitchen timer or a large digital clock from Amazon. I’ve used them all!Timers can really allow students to complete a variety of lab stations in a class period which is one of the reasons why stations can be a game changer in your science classroom!

Tip #5 – Plan your tidy up time

Text reads, “Include a photo so students will know how to reset the work station for the next group”. There is a graphic showing an example of this, with a basin for used test tubes, a test tube rack to replace with new test tubes, and a bin to put used paper towels.

Keeping your science lab clean and in tip-top shape is super important for both safety and making sure things run smoothly. Jessica, at Science Curiosity, advises planning a few dedicated minutes at the end of every lab (and between each station rotation), for students to tidy up their work areas.

Establish designated areas in the room, and in each lab station, for waste and used equipment. A simple plastic bin works great!

Before the lab even begins, take a moment to physically show students what to do with waste and used materials.

At each station, include a photo for reference, illustrating where each item should be before moving on to another station.

When the next group arrives they can get started right away!

You don’t even need to print a photo – use a laptop to take and display the photo easily.

If you are doing the same labs year to year, print and laminate the photos to use them over and over.

Let students know you have allotted a few minutes to clean up before station rotations, and before the bell rings at the end of class. This way they will not feel rushed – they know you are budgeting time for them.

By making clean-up a regular part of the lab routine, you not only help keep things safe but also teach your students some valuable responsibility. Check out Jessica’s blog post with seven tips for teaching lab clean up procedures to your students!

Tip #6 – Get organized with lab stations

Text against a blue background reads, “Tip: Create stations for various tasks to stay organized!”. There are three pages of station tasks overlaid on colored paper.

Like Michelle, Laney at Laney Lee is a fan of using dedicated lab stations to keep things organized, efficient, and safe. When each step of an experiment has its own designated space, students know exactly where to go and what materials they need at each stage.

For example, you might have:

a “Prep Station” for gathering ingredients or materials
a “Lab Station” for experimenting
and a “Clean-Up Station” for properly disposing of waste.

This setup keeps everything structured and helps avoid congestion in one area.

For shorter labs, consider having an “experimental” station where you sit and help students through the messy stages of the process.

Other stations can be set up where students run through the lab again virtually, review vocabulary, or read up on some important background knowledge.

Another bonus? Stations can support independent learning.

Students can move through each step at their own pace, making the lab experience less stressful and more hands-on. So, by creating well-planned stations, you not only streamline the process but also create a safe, student-centered environment where everyone can focus on learning and exploring. Want some ready-made lab stations? Check out these resources by Laney to get you started.