3 Simple Ways To Improve Your Science Labs

Don’t over complicate it…ain’t nobody got time for that!

Who doesn’t like a good science lab??? I’m pretty sure it’s something all students look forward to - teachers maybe not so much lol.

Realistically, an effective lab takes time to create and prep. But it’s so worth it! Students gain and retain more content knowledge through hands-on work forming connections with what they know, what they’ve learned, and the world around them.

Picture yourself as the student. Does the flow of content make sense? Do you see the connections? Have bridges been made to help fill learning gaps?

Don’t be that teacher that assigns a lab just to say you did a lab!

“The goal of lab days is to enhance student learning, promote deeper understanding or content depth of knowledge, and to provide an alternative perspective to the lesson topics being taught. If the lab you are planning to give does not focus on that goal, then you need to refocus it. ”

Here are my top 3 tips that make a lab days super-duper effective. No matter the lab - big or small - these pieces should ALWAYS be included.

1. Pre-Labs

   A pre-lab is an easy way to review and focus essential concepts from the lesson that relate to the lab. When using pre-labs in upper level science courses, such as chemistry and physics, they can provide additional calculations practice to help students “get it” before they do the experiment. You can even use pre-labs to encourage students to dig deeper into the content.

   Here are some of my favorite pre-lab ideas:

   • Online research centered around a lesson concept

   • History or reading passage about a lesson main idea

   • Practice problems based on lesson content

   • Video guides/notes - I love these video playlists!

     • Crash Course History of Science

     • Study Hall Chemistry

     • Crash Course Chemistry

     • Crash Course Physics

   • Mind Maps - Students get creative with lesson concepts! Side note, also one of my best sellers.

2. Real-Life Connections

   A lab falls flat if it’s too academic and fails to make a connection between the textbook and real-life. Every lab can connect to a real-life scenario or concept! A quick online search can help if you’re stuck. Design labs around lesson topics and real-life phenomena. This piece will help to ensure student engagement, plus the connections made between content and real-life will help students to understand and retain knowledge.

   Here are some resources that help with these connections:

   • Phenomena for NGSS

   • Exploratorium: Science Snacks

   • SciShow Videos

   • Crash Course: History of Science Videos

   • TED-Ed Videos

   • Biography

   *This is a great way to prep a pre-lab or to wrap up a lab activity!

   One last thing about making real-life connections is to pay attention to holidays and/or seasons. This not only makes for a festive school day experience, but it does the following (in my humble opinion):

   • naturally and easily builds a connection between life and content

   • promotes student engagement without asking for it

   • encourages student bonds with one another as they share stories (organic side effect)

3. Wrap It Up

   Don’t leave a lab activity open-ended or stop after the data analysis questions. Extend student depth of knowledge by having them apply their lab data to prove a concept/investigation question.

   Here are a couple suggestions:

   • Writing a full lab report is great way to deepen student understanding.  This workbook will walk students through the process of scientific writing including CER lessons and templates that can be used/duplicated for any lab investigation question.

   • Not all lab activities need a full lab report to make them effective. You can use this lab report outline with a conclusion graphic organizer instead!

The following PRO-TIP deserves honorable mention.

Timing is everything! There are pros and cons to when you actually assign a lab in the sequence of the lesson. Choose your implementation time wisely.

• Before Lesson Content

  • Pros: Can be used to engage students, assess prior knowledge, and preview lesson content.

  • Cons: Students may have limited background knowledge. This may lead to less of an understanding or recall ability due to less prior experience with the content.

• During Lesson Content

  • Pros: Can be used to explain important topics - enhancing lectures- and allows students to visualize the essential lesson content in a hands-on way. Labs during the lesson are an effective way to better student understanding and promote recall later in the content, providing a solid foundation for students to build their knowledge.

  • Cons: Students may not have covered enough of the lesson content to conduct an in-depth. This may limit the teacher when they design a lab.

• After Lesson Content

  • Pros: Can be used to evaluate student understanding and review lesson essential topics.

  • Cons: Students may have to go too long in the lesson without a hands-on activity. This may lead to disinterest, reduced retention of content, and overall boredom with the topic. Limiting the opportunities for hands-on activities can also lead to greater class disruptions, since students have less chances to “practice” proper lab techniques and conduct.

And there you have it. This is a proven method to ensure the lab you conduct is an effective one. What are some tips and tricks you have up your sleeve that help with labs? Leave a comment to share.

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