Articles

1 – 11 of 11 Articles

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  Nuts & Bolts | September 2024 Using a Soccer-Based Strategy for a Safer Chemistry Classroom

  This article describes a lab safety system modeled on soccer’s yellow and red card discipline. It effectively enforces safety rules in the classroom by using clear, visual indicators of student safety violations, and escalating consequences for repeated violations.

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  Resource Feature | March 2022 Cleaning Up the Lab

  In this article, the author discusses how the pandemic has created what might be an unobvious challenge for science teachers in many schools: a lack of custodial staff to help with keeping the lab space clean. With this in mind, she teaches her students the basics of cleaning up after a lab activity in order to make this behavior a part of their lab routine all year long.

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  Nuts & Bolts | May 2021 Chemistry Experiments at Home

  In this article, a teacher shares about how she successfully completed lab experiments with students while they were learning at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The author describes how careful planning allowed her to provide students with all the necessary materials for each lab experiment. Additionally, she explains how lab set-ups can be easily modified with substituted materials, while still providing a valuable learning experience for students.  

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  Resource Feature | September 2020 Lab Safety Teaching Resources for the Chemistry Classroom

  This article provides an introduction to the ACS lab safety videos and demonstrates ways to implement the videos into a 5E lesson plan. Specific resources and activities are provided to integrate safety into chemistry lesson plans.

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  Nuts & Bolts | September 2018 Setting the Tone for Safety with Younger Students

  This article outlines the basic considerations for lab safety in the elementary science classroom. Sample student safety contracts are provided by the author for teacher use.

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  Nuts & Bolts | May 2017 There’s More to the New Safety Data Sheets than a Missing “M”

  Safety in the chemistry lab is a concern for all teachers, regardless of years of experience. In 2015, major changes occurred to chemical labels and SDS in the US, however, many people that work and teach with chemicals are still fuzzy on the details. This article aims to increase your comfort level with SDSs by describing the timeline, some changes over the last 5 years, pros/cons of the newer format, related hazard communication issues, and providing info on other available resources.

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  Nuts & Bolts | September 2016 Keeping the Wow Factor, and Controlling the Risks

  This article reviews the safety problems inherent in the “traditional” rainbow experiment and similar demonstrations, the responses from various organizations, and safer alternatives.

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  Resource Feature | November 2014 A Cracking Good Reaction

  Eliminate safety concerns of cracking hydrocarbons in a classroom setting by doing the reaction with a microscale set up.

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  Nuts & Bolts | May 2015 Lab Cleanup in 15 Minutes a Day

  Simple steps all busy teachers can take to clean and organize their prep room.

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  Nuts & Bolts | November 2014 Demonstrations and Good Pedagogy

  Given recent accidents involving methanol, are traditional, teacher-performed, passive-student demonstrations best?

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  Nuts & Bolts | May 2016 Managing Chemical Wastes in the High School Lab

  Need a quick reference on chemical disposal? This article provides a solid starting point to determine proper disposal methods for high school lab waste.