Keeping Labs Safer With Engineering Controls

Blog Post | July 2018

Engineering controls can help isolate people from hazards and make the lab safer, according to the OSHA/NIOSH “Hierarchy of Controls.” Laboratories require specific engineering controls to address biological, chemical,…

Power Tool Safety in Science Labs

Blog Post | May 2018

The use of power tools, such as table saws, drill presses, and miter saws, is becoming more common in science and STEM laboratories. All power tools have special mechanical and non-mechanical safety hazards that can…

A Three-Step Method for Safer Labs

Blog Post | January 2017

  The lab can be an unsafe place. Under NSTA’s Duty of Care, however, the teacher is required to make labs safer (see Resources). One way of doing so is to follow the analysis, assessment, and action (AAA) method…

How many "labs?"

Blog Post | November 2016

I’m a first-year biology teacher. How do I decide how many labs I could or should do each week. My colleagues have different ideas about this.  —L., South Carolina Sometimes the word lab is used to describe any…

Are Your Lab Investigations Argument Driven?

Blog Post | July 2014

The 27 lab investigations in the new NSTA Press book Argument-Driven Inquiry in Biology: Lab Investigations for Grades 9-12 follow the argument-driven inquiry (ADI) instruction model, which consists of eight stages.…

The American Jobs Act and science labs

Blog Post | September 2011

NSTA Executive Director Francis Eberle Last week President Obama introduced his new American Jobs Act, which included provisions that will impact schools, teachers and, specifically, science labs. A press…

Lab instructions: Finding the right mix

Blog Post | March 2010

I’m looking for information regarding student comprehension and/or performance when given basic, succinct instructions versus long, detailed lab instructions. I have heard convincing arguments for both, but I’d like to…

Extended Lab Shut-down Closeout

Blog Post | April 2020

I. Best of Times, Worst of Times With the extended closing of schools resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, it is possible that some school district may need to be closed for the balance of the academic year. In any…

Multimedia lab reports and science podcasting

Blog Post | March 2009

There are many sessions devoted to technology applications. Two that I attended on Friday afternoon were presented by dynamic teachers from New Jersey and Texas. In “Lights! Action! Science!” Barbara DeSantis…

Experiments & Lab Safety (your choice)

Collection | January 2020

Inq-ITS Virtual Labs - Eclipses

Collection | April 2024

Examine how lunar and solar eclipses happen, and how scientists predict where and when eclipses can be observed.

Safety Resources for Middle/Secondary Schools

Page | June 2020

Safety Resources for Middle/Secondary Schools U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Specialized Information Services (SIS) recently released a new Enviro-Health Links page, "Laboratory Safety," which offers links to information for clinical, academic, and school…

Safety Resources for Elementary Schools

Page | June 2020

Safety Resources for Elementary Schools American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) Call the Poison Control Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org. American Chemical Society (ACS) Safety in the Elementary (K–6) Classroom (PDF) Milli's Safety Tips for Children (PDF) Council of State…

Methanol Use in School Science Labs: Danger, Will Robinson!

Blog Post | October 2022

Are Your Lab SOPs in Place for a Safer School Year?

Blog Post | July 2021