Always:
For each practical: Identify hazards. Is there a heat source? Chemicals? Pressure? For each hazard, identify controls: ventilation, eye protection, careful handling.
Before the lesson: Check all equipment works. Do a dry run if it's a new practical. Know how to respond if something goes wrong.
Student briefing: Before starting, explain the aim, method, hazards, and safety precautions. Ask: "What could go wrong? How will we prevent that?"
Circulate constantly. Don't sit at your desk. Watch for shortcuts ("I'll skip the goggles"), mishandled equipment, or students not following instructions.
Have a deliberate pace: students shouldn't be rushing or waiting around. Rushing leads to mistakes; waiting leads to off-task behaviour.
Use hand signals or timers to prompt transitions: "Two minutes to tidy your station."
Assign roles so every student is engaged and accountability is clear. The reader follows the method aloud, the measurer handles volumes and masses, the observer watches for hazards, the timekeeper keeps the group on schedule.
Rotate roles across practicals so every student develops all skills.
Provide a template for recording data: table format, units, space for observations. Students focus on measuring accurately and recording carefully, not figuring out what to write down.
After practical, analyse results together: "Why did Group 3 get a different result? What might have caused that? How does this compare to the theory?"
Five minutes before the end: Call for tidying. Each group responsible for their station: wiping benches, returning equipment to labelled locations, disposing of materials safely.
Inspect stations quickly before students leave. Cleanliness teaches respect for shared spaces and prevents hazards like chemical spills.
