Science Lab Safety and Equipment Teaching Resources
Introduce students to the science lab with lab equipment activities, safety posters for the classroom and more teacher resources created by teachers for teachers like you!
Aligned with the NGSS curriculum, this collection of resources will introduce students to common lab equipment and how to use each tool, plus ensure that kids know how to stay safe while testing their hypotheses in the lab! From Bunsen burners to beakers and beyond, this collection has everything you need to craft your lesson plans.
Whether this is your first year teaching science, or you're just looking for a handy reference, read on for a primer from our teacher team!
Science Lab Equipment for Schools — A Vocabulary List for Teachers
The average school science lab has plenty of different items of equipment, and most are new to students. So our teacher team has drafted a simple list of terms that can help you introduce each type to your class!
Safety Goggles
Key to lab safety is wearing protective eyewear during science experiments to protect our eyes from potential hazards like chemicals or flying objects.
Safety goggles are a type of safety equipment that creates a protective barrier around the eyes, shielding them from harm during our science experiments and other lab activities.
Microscope
A microscope is a special tool that magnifies tiny objects so that we can see them in the science lab.
These objects would be too small to see with the naked eye, but the lens of the microscope allows us to look at details and structures of cells and tiny organisms.
Bunsen Burner
A Bunsen burner is a heat source that provides a controlled flame for various classroom science experiments. The burner has a metal base with a gas inlet and an adjustable air vent. We control the flow of gas and air to adjust the size and intensity of the flame.
It's important to follow lab safety rules — including wearing our safety goggles — when we're using a Bunsen burner.
Thermometer
This piece of common science lab equipment is one students likely have seen in the real world. After all, a thermometer is a device we use to measure temperature, and that includes measuring the temperature outside or a person's body temperature.
Students may, however, be more familiar with a digital thermometer or than the type they'll encounter in the science lab. This handy tool is made of a long glass tube with a scale that indicates the temperature reading.
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Lab Equipment Vocabulary – Match-Up Activity
Identify different types of science tools by matching vocabulary terms, pictures, and definitions.
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Lab Safety – Interactive and Printable Cloze Reading Activity
Demonstrate an understanding of lab safety rules and expectations by completing a cloze reading activity.
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Reading Thermometers – Task Cards
Practice reading thermometers with this set of 24 task cards.
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Thermometer Poster (with Description)
A poster to display in the classroom when learning about the thermometer.
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Lab Safety Teaching Slides
Teach your students about the important of science safety before conducting experiments with this 18-slide instructional slide deck.
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Science Lab Safety Rules – Poster Pack
Remind your students of lab safety rules with this set of 6 printable posters.
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Spring Scale Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a spring scale.
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Balance Scale Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a balance scale.
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Bunsen Burner Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a Bunsen burner.
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Triple Beam Balance Scale Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a triple beam balance scale.
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Lab Equipment Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing standard lab equipment.
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Refracting Telescope Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a refracting telescope.
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Thermometer Poster – Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a thermometer.
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Microscope Poster - Diagram with Labels
A poster containing a diagram with labels showing the key parts of a microscope.
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Science Equipment Poster Pack for the Classroom With Labels
A poster resource pack containing diagrams with labels of various pieces of scientific apparatus.