Play it Safe….

The job of a scientistis to ask questions that have never been asked before, and that is when scientists need to find the answers themselves by performing experiments. An experiment is simply a test on a small

part of the world. Isaac Newton wondered why apples fell from a tree and spent many years of his life investigating

the forces of gravity. He later went on to study the solar system and the orbits of planets.

Scientists need to be able to use all of their five senses to make observations. The main sense a scientist uses is sight, although hearing, smell and touch are sometimes used.

‘Elementary dear Watson’ A scientist is really a detective trying to solve a puzzling case. They gather clues (observations) and develop a conclusion from them.

Safety in scienceIn science you will deal with many potential dangers.You will work with flames, intense heat and corrosive

substances like acids that can burn you badly.

It is particularly dangerous if chemicals like these get splashed in your eyes.

Lots of chemicals are poisonousand can make you extremely ill or can kill you if you

sniff or taste them.

Broken glass and equipment can cut you or laboratory assistants. Glass is particularly dangerous if it shatters, spreading fragments that can enter your eye.

Safety rulesThe laboratory can be a very dangerous place, but can also be a very safe one if we all follow some simple rules.

Mr Porker, the Science Laboratory Technician will provide you with a set of rules that you must abide by when visiting the science laboratory. You will need to glue these rules into your science book, learn them thoroughly and more importantly, follow them closely.

You will also be expected to draw a full page floor plan of your science laboratory and on it, locate and label all relevant safety equipment.

How many rules are being broken in this image?List them.

Now get creative. You should also select one science laboratory safety rule and produce an eye catching A4 poster to hang in your classroom. You may prefer to write a poem instead or, if you are clever enough and have the time, produce a short ‘looney tuney cartooney’. Discuss your proposed plan of attack with your teacher before starting.

Eg. Know Your Science Equipment

Here are some poster ideas that your teacher may wish to discuss with you.

Check this out dudes!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsAHt0FiwNM