The first day of middle school Science is all about setting the tone for the year. You want students to feel welcome, excited about Science, and ready to learn but you also need to establish important safety expectations from day one.
These 3 activities are a great way to make the first day engaging while introducing students to the routines and expectations they'll need all year long.
1. Science Safety Scavenger Hunt
Get students moving around the classroom with a Science Safety Scavenger Hunt!
Make a list of safety items around the classroom such as:
- Fire extinguisher
- Fire blanket
- Eyewash station
- Safety goggles
- Garbage can
- Container for broken glass
- First aid kit
Students work in pairs or small groups to find the information and answer questions about what they discover.
This is a great way to introduce your safety expectations while also getting students familiar with their new Science classroom.
Teacher tip: Have your Science Safety Rules Anchor Charts posted before students arrive so they can begin using it as a resource during the scavenger hunt and throughout the year.
2. Complete a Science Safety Breakout Challenge!
Students work in teams to solve puzzles, answer questions, and complete challenges related to Science classroom and laboratory safety. Along the way, they'll practice communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
It's a much more memorable way to introduce safety than simply handing students a list of rules and asking them to read it.
3. Create a Science Safety Symbol
Let students get creative with safety by having them design their own Science safety symbol.
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| Activity & Bulletin Board Letters to make a display |
After learning about common safety symbols, challenge students to create a symbol that communicates a Science classroom safety rule or potential hazard. They can draw their symbol and explain what it means, what it represents, and what someone should do when they see it.
This activity gives you a quick way to see what students understand while allowing them to bring some creativity into the first day of Science. Once students finish their safety symbols, turn their work into a Science Safety Bulletin Board! Displaying their creations gives students ownership of the classroom and creates a colorful, student-made reminder of the safety expectations you'll be using throughout the year.
Don't Forget Your Safety Anchor Chart!
While posting a safety chart isn't an activity itself, it's an important part of your first-day setup. Have your Science Safety Rules Anchor Chart displayed before students arrive so it becomes a resource students can refer to during all lab activities.
You can continue referring to the chart throughout the year, especially before labs and hands-on investigations. The goal is to make safety an ongoing part of your classroom culture not just something students learn during the first week of school.
Start Your Year with Science!
The first day doesn't have to be filled with rules, procedures, and paperwork. With a safety scavenger hunt, safety breakout challenge and creative safety symbol activity, students can start the year by moving, collaborating, creating, and learning what it means to be safe scientists.
It's a fun and meaningful way to make your first day of middle school Science one students will remember!
