At-Home Science Safety Recommendations_FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS_FINAL

At-Home Science Safety General Guidelines

Grades K-12

Collaboratively developed by Dean Gilbert, EDU Consulting LLC ([email protected]), Jennifer Moses,

National Board Certified Teacher, Burbank Unified School District (jennifermoses@burbankusd.org) and Anthony

Quan, STEM Coordinator, Los Angeles County Office of Education ([email protected]), September 2020.

Dear Student, Parent/Guardian:

In order to provide and maintain a learning and working environment that is as safe as possible

for you, your science teacher will:

● exercise reasonable judgment when conducting laboratory investigations;

● minimize, if not eliminate risk by using virtual laboratory simulations/investigations;

● accept the duty of care to provide all students and staff with the safest environment

possible when performing hands-on science investigations or demonstrations in the

classroom or at-home setting.

To ensure that science experiments at home are safe, positive learning experiences, students

and parents should read, discuss, and sign this science safety rules and procedures agreement.

The student, parent, and science instructor should each keep a copy for their records.

1. Read and understand the lab procedure before beginning. Do not deviate from or do anything

that is not part of the approved experimental procedure. Read the written procedures in

advance and understand what you are going to do. Lack of familiarity wastes your time and is

a major cause of injury. Know the potential hazards before you do the experiment. Follow all

instructions given by your instructor or adult supervisor.

2. Only perform experiments recommended by your instructor.

3. Be properly prepared to do the experiment by having all necessary materials and the

directions readily available. Do not substitute any materials without getting approval from

your teacher. Discuss any concerns you have with your instructor prior to doing the

experiment.

4. Make sure you pay close attention to any safety warnings your teacher discusses as they

relate to the experiment.

5. Protect your work surface against any materials which could stain or damage countertops or

furniture. All experiments should be performed on surfaces that can be easily cleaned or

wiped up.

6. When doing an experiment in distance learning instruction, be sure to activate your video

component to insure appropriate teacher supervision.

7. If you have siblings and/or pets, make sure they can’t interrupt your experiment or distract you.

8. In most cases, at-home experiments assigned by a teacher would probably be considered

extremely low-risk and NOT require protective eyewear. IF your teacher requires you to

participate in an experiment that requires protective eyewear (i.e. goggles), the school must

provide them. As an alternative to this, your teacher may demonstrate the experiment and/or

videotape it for your observation.

9. When doing at-home experiments, you should wear closed-toed shoes and clothing should

not be loose and floppy, but arms and legs should be covered. Tie back long hair.

At-Home Science Safety General Guidelines

Grades K-12

Collaboratively developed by Dean Gilbert, EDU Consulting LLC ([email protected]), Jennifer Moses,

National Board Certified Teacher, Burbank Unified School District (jennifermoses@burbankusd.org) and Anthony

Quan, STEM Coordinator, Los Angeles County Office of Education ([email protected]), September 2020.

10. Prior to doing any at-home experiments, review with your parents your family’s emergency

evacuation plan and location of a first aid kit.

11. Act in a responsible manner at all times. No horseplay should occur in the experiment area.

12. Never taste, eat or drink any materials you work with in an experiment. Eating, drinking, and

storing food in your work area are forbidden during the experiment.

13. Be sure your work area is free of clutter, with plenty of room to work.

14. Heat sources (i.e. candles, matches, stove/oven) are not recommended for at-home science.

However, some experiments may require use of hot/warm water from your tap--be careful

when using anything with extreme temperatures. Be sure to follow all safety guidelines

provided by your teacher. If you burn yourself, treat immediately by putting the burned area

under cold water for at least 15 minutes.

15. Report all accidents, injuries, and close calls to both your teacher and parents/guardian

immediately.

16. List your allergies on the bottom of this page. If any experiment deals with something to

which you are allergic, be sure to tell your teacher BEFORE the experiment begins.

17. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds BEFORE and AFTER every

experiment. Be sure to clean your work surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant frequently.

18. If your teacher/school provides you with a science kit, it should be stored so that small

children or pets can’t reach them.

19. If you have any questions or confusion around the experiment or the procedure(s), DO NOT

proceed until you seek clarification from your teacher.

20. Be extremely careful when navigating the internet. Only open links that are reliable, safe and

recommended by your teacher and/or parent/guardian for purposes of instruction.

I, have read, understand, agree to follow these science safety rules

and procedures. I agree to abide by any additional instructions, written or verbal, provided by my

science instructor or adult supervisor. I realize that my failure to follow these rules and

instructions may result in my permanent suspension from this class.

Student’s Signature _____________________________________ Date _______________

Parent’s Signature _____________________________________ Date _______________

* List any allergies or medical problems that your teacher should be aware of:

At-Home Science Safety General Guidelines

Grades K-12

Collaboratively developed by Dean Gilbert, EDU Consulting LLC ([email protected]), Jennifer Moses,

National Board Certified Teacher, Burbank Unified School District (jennifermoses@burbankusd.org) and Anthony

Quan, STEM Coordinator, Los Angeles County Office of Education ([email protected]), September 2020.

Acknowledgements:

- The Laboratory Safety Institute- Safe Science at Home, Science Safety Rules Agreement

- NSTA Position Statement- Liability of Science Teachers for Laboratory Science

- When in doubt about safety and liability issues related to any hands-on activities, refer to the

Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools.