Safety in the science classroom is the #1 priority for students, teachers and parents. Look like a real scientist by wearing your splash-proof goggles or safety glasses. You can also wear these when using cleaning products at home. Download learning activities, science guides about safety, and resources on how important it is to stop, think and apply safe laboratory practices when working in a lab environment.
Lab Safety Awareness
Laboratory safety is governed by numerous local, state and federal regulations. OSHA has promulgated rules and published guidance to make laboratories increasingly safe for personnel. Download these booklets to learn the primary responsibility for maintaining laboratory safety at work and in the science classroom for a healthy environment. Material contained in these publications are in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission. Source credit is requested but not required.
Booklet for OSHA Laboratory Safety Guidance
It is essential for all involved in the science instruction program to develop a positive approach to a safe and healthy environment in the laboratory. Safety and the enforcement of safety regulations and laws in the science classroom and laboratory are the responsibility of the principal, teacher, and student—each assum-ing his/her share. Safety and health should be an integral part of the planning, preparation, and implementation of any science program.
Booklet for School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guidance
Video: Zombie College: The 5 Rules of Lab Safety
What is Zombie College?
Whether you're a chemist, researcher, or a student in a freshman biology course, the laboratory is a potentially fatal workplace. Lab safety is more than just memorizing a list of "Dos and Don'ts"...working safely is a state of mind. Our challenge was to design a blended learning program to serve as a catalyst to get learners thinking about and discussing the topic of lab safety. The goal is developing "a safety state of mind" which is demonstrated by behavioral change.
- Video Game
- Music Video
- Student Activities
Read More
Video: General Lab Safety Guidelines
The Amoeba Sisters are on a mission to demystify science with humor and relevance by creating free videos, GIFs, handouts, and comics. This video introduces science lab safety guidelines with memorable illustrations and an accompanying handout.
Read More
NIH’s Student Laboratory Safety Program
S.T.A.R.S. (Safe Techniques Advance Research Science) Training
S.T.A.R.S. Training is a summer program only. This program is the only safety training course specifically designed and developed for researchers, ages 21 and under, working in biomedical laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Goals
- To provide students with the knowledge of a broad range of safety topics applicable to a biomedical research facility in a hands-on lab environment.
- To foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills vital to potential hazard recognition and accident prevention through mock learning scenarios and challenges.
Register: SafetyTraining.NIH.gov
STARS Brochure NIH’s Student Laboratory Safety Program
Lab Safety Rules for Students
- Report all accidents, injuries, and breakage of glass or equipment to instructor immediately.
- Keep pathways clear by placing extra items (books, bags, etc.) on the shelves or under the worktables. If under the tables, make sure that these items cannot be stepped on.
- Long hair (chin-length or longer) must be tied back to avoid catching fire.
- Wear sensible clothing including footwear. Loose clothing should be secured so they do not get caught in a flame or chemicals.
- Work quietly — know what you are doing by reading the assigned experiment before you start to work. Pay close attention to any cautions described in the laboratory exercises
- Do not taste or smell chemicals.
- Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when heating substances, dissecting, etc.
- Do not attempt to change the position of glass tubing in a stopper.
- Never point a test tube being heated at another student or yourself. Never look into a test tube while you are heating it.
- Unauthorized experiments or procedures must not be attempted.
- Keep solids out of the sink.
- Leave your workstation clean and in good order before leaving the laboratory.
- Do not lean, hang over or sit on the laboratory tables.
- Do not leave your laboratory station without permission of the teacher.
- Learn the location of the fire extinguisher, eye wash station, first aid kit and safety shower.
- Fooling around or "horse play" in the laboratory is absolutely forbidden. Students found in violation of this safety rule will be barred from participating in future labs and could result in suspension.
- Anyone wearing acrylic nails will not be allowed to work with matches, lighted splints, Bunsen burners, etc.
- Do not lift any solutions, glassware or other types of apparatus above eye level.
- Follow all instructions given by your teacher.
- Learn how to transport all materials and equipment safely.
- No eating or drinking in the lab at any time!
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Student Laboratory Safety Activities, Information, and Resources
Download OSHA Safety and Health Activities, Information, and Resources
Playlist: NASA's Space Place
What Is a Solar Eclipse?
For more information about safely viewing eclipses, visit:...
For more information about safely viewing eclipses, visit: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
Whoa! It’s the middle of the day—so why is the sky getting dark? It’s a solar eclipse! A solar eclipse happens when, ...at just the right moment, the moon passes between the sun and Earth.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What happens during a solar eclipse?
2. True or False: A partial solar eclipse always blocks all of the Sun’s light.
3. What is a path of totality?
4. The Sun’s atmosphere is called the ____________.
Answer Key:
1. The Moon passes between the Sun and Earth
2. False
3. Path of the Moon’s shadow
4. Corona
Find out more about the sun at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/.
"Positive and Fun" by Scott Holmes
http://www.scottholmesmusic.uk
How Do We Know Earth Is Changing?
Scientists can use new and old pictures to keep track of Earth’s...
Scientists can use new and old pictures to keep track of Earth’s changes over time. Since Earth is where we live – and it’s the only planet we know of ...that we can live on – scientists are constantly observing its land, water, and air.
By capturing images from the ground and images from satellites in the sky, we can see how our planet is different than it used to be.
Find more images of our changing planet at
https://climate.nasa.gov/images-of-change
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about our planet at
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
What Is an Aurora?
An aurora looks like a beautiful display of lights in the sky. We can...
An aurora looks like a beautiful display of lights in the sky. We can also see auroras from space! The name of an aurora changes depending on its location. If ...you’re in the northern hemisphere, it is called aurora borealis, or northern lights, and if you’re in the southern hemisphere, then it is called aurora australis, or southern lights.
So, what causes these beautiful displays of lights anyway? And how exactly does it work? Watch the video to find out!
Learn more about auroras at
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about space and Earth science at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
What Is a Nebula?
Nebulae are far away from Earth. We know what they look like because...
Nebulae are far away from Earth. We know what they look like because scientists use powerful telescopes to capture images of them. A nebula can take many different forms and ...shapes, but where did these stunning dust clouds come from?
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is a nebula made of?
2. How do scientists capture images of nebulae?
3. True or False: Nebulae can take many different forms and shapes.
4. Name one way a nebula can form.
5. Learning more about nebulae can help us better understand the lifecycle of stars, including our _______ — the most important star to our life here on Earth.
Answer Key:
1. Dust and gas or hydrogen and helium
2. [Powerful] telescopes
3. True
4. From the gas and dust of an exploded star or regions where new stars are beginning to form (supernova)
5. Sun
Learn more at
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/nebula/en/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about space and Earth science at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
What Causes Sea Level Rise?
People have been measuring local sea level at certain locations along...
People have been measuring local sea level at certain locations along the coasts for hundreds of years. And NASA has been measuring the global sea level for almost three decades. ...Over this time, scientists have observed that the global sea level has been rising. The ocean is about 7 to 8 inches higher now than it was a century ago.
Why? Because Earth is getting warmer.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What causes the level of the water to rise and sink all day long?
2. The average height of the ocean in a particular place is called the _______ _________ ________.
3. NASA measures the average sea level of the whole ocean from space. What is another name for the average sea level of the whole ocean?
4. True or False: As Earth warms, the ocean warms, too.
5. What is the name of the NASA satellites that measure global sea level?
Answer Key:
1. Waves and tides
2. Local sea level
3. Global sea level
4. True
5. Jason
Learn more at
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/ocean/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about our planet at
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
How Do We Launch Things into Space?
You’ve probably seen beautiful photos of Earth and the other planets...
You’ve probably seen beautiful photos of Earth and the other planets in our solar system. Those photos were often captured by spacecraft – robotic explorers doing their work far away ...from Earth. But how exactly do we send these spacecraft so far away? Well, it all starts with a rocket. A really, really big one.
Comprehension Questions:
1. True or False: A rocket needs to get going to 17,800 MPH to thrust into Earth’s atmosphere and stay in orbit.
2. An object in space that orbits around a large object is called a ___________.
3. What is the name of the circular path that satellites follow around Earth?
4. The balance of momentum and _________ can keep a satellite in orbit for many years.
Answer Key:
1. True
2. Satellite
3. Orbit
4. Gravity
Learn more at
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/launching-into-space/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about space and Earth science at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
What Is the Greenhouse Effect?
Earth is a comfortable place for living things. It’s just the right...
Earth is a comfortable place for living things. It’s just the right temperatures for plants and animals – including humans – to thrive. Why is Earth so special?
Well, one reason ...is: the greenhouse effect!
Comprehension Questions:
1. The clear glass of a greenhouse allows sunlight to shine into the greenhouse, while also trapping the _______’s heat inside. This is how a greenhouse keeps plants warm, even at night and in the winter.
2. What is the name of the jacket of gases surrounding our Earth?
3. Name one of the greenhouse gases.
4. What kind of human activities can release more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere?
5. True or False: Extra greenhouse gases in our atmosphere cause our planet to warm up.
Answer Key:
1. Sun
2. Atmosphere
3. Any of the following: Water vapor; Carbon dioxide; Methane; Ozone; Nitrous oxide; Chlorofluorocarbons
4. Anything involving burning fossil fuels
5. True
Learn more at
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about our planet at
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
Why Is the Sky Blue?
Why is the sky blue and not purple, green or orange? It's all because...
Why is the sky blue and not purple, green or orange? It's all because of how the Sun's light reaches Earth!
Comprehension Questions:
1. You can separate and see all the colors ...in white light if you shine sunlight through a specially shaped crystal called a _________.
2. True or False: Particles of dust, pollution, or smoke in the air can cause the whole sky to glow red.
3. Why do we only see blue light when we look up on a sunny day?
4. In what pattern does light travel?
Answer Key:
1. Prism
2. True
3. Blue light is scattered more than the other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves.
4. Waves
Learn more at
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about space and Earth science at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
Voiceover provided by NASA scientist Dr. Moogega Stricker
Our Moon Isn't the Only Moon!
Our Moon isn’t the only moon out there. In fact, some planets have a...
Our Moon isn’t the only moon out there. In fact, some planets have a lot of moons!
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why does our Moon appear so big and bright?
2. A moon is ...a natural object that __________ anything larger than itself.
3. True or False: Moons are always the same shape and size.
4. Which two planets have no moons at all?
5. What makes Jupiter’s moon Europa special?
Answer Key:
1. Because it’s closer to Earth than any other planet
2. Orbits
3. False
4. Mercury and Venus
5. There is thought to be a giant saltwater ocean under its surface
Learn more about which planets have moons, and which don’t at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/how-many-moons/
Find more fun videos, games, and articles about space and Earth science at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/
Voiceover provided by NASA scientist Dr. Moogega Stricker
The Solar System's Formation
In this episode, find out how our solar system formed and how it came...
In this episode, find out how our solar system formed and how it came to be the busy place it is today.
Comprehension Question:
1. Approximately how many billions of years ago ...did our solar system form?
Answer Key:
1. 4.6 billion years
For a transcript of this video and a fun downloadable poster, visit https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-system-formation/en/.
Be sure to check out NASA Space Place for a ton of exciting activities, interesting articles, and cool games at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/.
What is a Black Hole?
In this episode, find out how what a black hole is, how they can form,...
In this episode, find out how what a black hole is, how they can form, and why they are so cool!
Comprehension Questions:
1. A black hole is an area of such ...immense ______ that nothing—not even light—can escape from it.
2. What is a singularity?
3. What gives a black hole its color?
4. An ______ ______ is probably what you are thinking of when you think of a black hole.
5. How does spaghettification get its name?
Answer Key:
1. Gravity
2. The point where all the mass is trapped
3. Because the black hole sucks in everything, including light
4. Event horizon
5. As a spacecraft approaches a black hole, the gravity will be so much stronger on the side closer to the black hole than at the other side that it will get completely stretched out like a piece of spaghetti.
For a transcript of this video and a fun downloadable poster, visit https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/black-holes/en/
Be sure to check out NASA's Space Place for a ton of exciting activities, interesting articles, and cool games at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/.
How does GPS work?
In this episode, find out how GPS works and how it can help you satisfy...
In this episode, find out how GPS works and how it can help you satisfy a late night pizza craving!
Comprehension Questions:
1. What does GPS stand for?
2. Your phone can ...determine where you are by listening to signals from _________ in the sky.
3. True or False: Any device with GPS is programmed to know where all the GPS satellites are at any given time.
4. How does a phone compute its location?
Answer Key:
1. Global Positioning System
2. Satellites
3. True
4. Potential answer: By identifying how far the satellites are and figuring out the amount of time it took for the signal to reach the satellite.
For a transcript of this video and a fun downloadable poster, visit https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/gps-pizza/en/
Be sure to check out NASA Space Place for a ton of exciting activities, interesting articles, and cool games at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/.
What Is a Solar Eclipse?
For more information about safely viewing eclipses, visit: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
Whoa! It’s the middle of the day—so why is the sky getting dark? It’s a solar eclipse! A solar eclipse happens when, ...at just the right moment, the moon passes between the sun and Earth.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What happens during a solar eclipse?
2. True or False: A partial solar eclipse always blocks all of the Sun’s light.
3. What is a path of totality?
4. The Sun’s atmosphere is called the ____________.
Answer Key:
1. The Moon passes between the Sun and Earth
2. False
3. Path of the Moon’s shadow
4. Corona
Find out more about the sun at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/.
"Positive and Fun" by Scott Holmes
http://www.scottholmesmusic.uk
OSHA Safety For Workers’ Rights on the Job 
OSHA Workplace Brief Tutorial on Completing the Recordkeeping Forms PowerPoint PPT 
OSHA Workplace Brief Tutorial on Completing the Recordkeeping Forms PowerPoint PPTX 
