Jeremy Fiel

Biology I

50 min

Objectives:

·         The students will identify important equipment used in the science lab.

·         The students will describe the proper use of given lab equipment.

Materials:

Computers (Computer lab), if possible

Lab Equipment (see checklist, attached)

Lab Equipment Worksheet.doc

How to Read a Graduated Cylinder.doc

Markers/colored pencils

Mini-posters

Bell-work: Name a hobby or something you enjoy doing (sports, cooking, school work, carpentry, etc.).  What equipment or tools are necessary for you to do this?  List as many as possible.

Set: Have students discuss bell-work.  Science is also something that requires lots of tools and equipment, and you have to know what they are and how they’re used.  You are constantly observing things and measuring things in science, and the equipment we use makes us more effective.  Today you’ll learn several different pieces of equipment, and you’ll describe how certain things are used.

Procedure:

1. 1.       Pass out the Lab Equipment Worksheet and the Handout: How to Read a Graduated Cylinder to each student.
2. 2.       Have students skim the worksheet and identify the lab equipment they’re already familiar with. 
3. 3.       Pick up the graduated cylinder (put some water in it if possible) and have them look at their handouts.  Describe the meniscus and demonstrate the proper way to read its volume.  Explain how the volume will seem different if your eyes are above or below the meniscus, thus they should be at eye level.  Pass it around and let students read the volume and notice this for themselves.
4. 4.       Now have students fill in the two columns on the worksheet for graduated cylinder (use and diagram).  Explain that this is what they will do for every piece of equipment on the 2-page worksheet.
5. 5.       Now, if we have access to the computer lab, take class to the lab.  They should take their worksheets with them and have something to write and draw with (preferably pencil).  In the lab, students should get online and go directly to fielteach.googlepages.com/chemistree.  At that site, they should click on the link to Lab Equipment on the Right.  On the lab equipment page, they should use the links to navigate and get the information necessary to fill in the worksheet.  I will observe.  Any items that are not found from that page should be searched for on google or Wikipedia. 
6. 6.       If the computer lab is not available, I will use the actual pieces of lab equipment, quizzing students on what they think each is used for.  I will correct misconceptions and tell them any important safety information for each piece.  I will then pass them around and let students examine them and draw them. 
7. 7.       If students finish early and have time, they should pick a piece of lab equipment and make a mini-poster of it.  It should include the name of the equipment, a drawing, and a brief summary of how it’s used.  This will be an extra credit grade.  I will supply posters and supplies.
8. 8.       Collect the 2-page worksheet to grade.  The students may hold on to the graduated cylinder sheet.  Collect lab equipment, return to class (if in computer lab).

    

Closure:  Have them relate the lab equipment to equipment they have in their house.  Have students review the pieces of lab equipment and identify safety hazards or dangers associated with this equipment or with the lab in general.  The next lesson will deal with lab safety. 

Assessment:

Informal- Verbal questioning during set and closure and discussion of handouts.

Formal-  The lab equipment worksheet will be graded and recorded in the gradebook.

EQUIPMENT

1. Graduated cylinder
2. Beaker
3. Triple beam balance
4. Test tube
5. Bunsen burner; striker
6. Erlenmeyer flask
7. Eye dropper/pipet
8. Funnel
9. Tongs
10. Stirring Rod
11. Petri dish
12. Thermometer
13. Ruler
14. Spatula/scoopula
15. Forceps
16. Hot plate

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