Science notes, unit 2

Science room rules

Textbook Science Year 3 (DLP), pages 23–28

What this chapter covers

You can name the Science Room rules (2.1.1)
You can say why we follow each rule (2.1.1)
You can sort the rules into before, during and after an activity (2.1.1)
You can spot a pupil who is breaking a rule and say what to do (2.1.1)
You can practise the rules every time you use the Science Room (2.1.1)

2.1Adhere to science room rules

The Science Room is a special room in your school. You do fun science activities there. It has many things that can break or hurt you. So we must follow its rules.

A rule tells us what we must do, or must not do. To adhere to the rules means to follow them every time.

Science apparatus are the tools we use for science activities. Examples: a beaker, a test tube and a hand lens.

Meet Mr Beaker and Ms Test Tube

A smiling beaker and test tube talk about the careful Year 3 pupils — Mr Beaker and Ms Test Tube are happy. The pupils used them with care.

Picture: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 23.

Mr Beaker and Ms Test Tube are made of glass. Glass breaks easily. What if the pupils were not careful? The glass could fall and break. Sharp pieces of glass can cut our hands.

Did you know? Many beakers and test tubes are made of a special glass. It does not crack when it gets hot. But it still breaks if you drop it!

Before an activity

Some rules must be followed before we start. They keep us safe and ready to learn.

Line upLine up before you enter the Science Room.

Leave your bag outsideBags on the floor can make friends trip and fall.

Wear shoesWear shoes that cover your feet.

Open doors and windowsOpen them before any activity starts.

Kina opens the window louvres; the door is open — Kina opens the windows.

A boy wears slippers in the Science Room; his friend warns him — Kina opens the windows.

Pictures: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 24.

Why open the doors and windows? To let in light and fresh air. Air must flow in and out. A closed room becomes hot, dark and stuffy. Then it is hard to do our work.

Why wear shoes that cover the feet? To keep our feet safe. Broken glass or a heavy object may fall on the floor. Slippers do not protect our toes.

Slippers and sandals are not safe shoes. Your toes are open. Wear your school shoes in the Science Room.

Aiman closed all the windows in the Science Room. What will the room be like?

Show answerHide answer

The room will be dark and hot. There is not enough light and fresh air, so it is not comfortable to work.

During an activity

These rules are for while we are doing the activity.

Do not start any activity until the teacher says so.
Take the apparatus in a proper and careful way. Wait for your turn.
Do not run or play in the Science Room.
Do not eat or drink in the Science Room. Some things there are not safe to eat.
Do not scribble on the tables.
Tell the teacher quickly if someone is hurt or something breaks.

Pupils take beakers from the teacher's table one by one — Pupils take the apparatus one by one.

Two boys draw and write on the table top — Pupils take the apparatus one by one.

Pictures: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 25.

What if everyone rushes?

Cikgu asks each pupil to take a hand lens and a specimen. (A specimen is a thing we look at, like a leaf or a small insect.)
If the pupils rush: they push each other. The hand lens and specimen may fall and break.
If the pupils line up: everyone gets a turn. Nothing falls or breaks.

It is like buying nasi lemak at the school canteen. If everyone pushes, the food spills. If everyone queues, everyone gets fed!

Can we draw a picture of a specimen on the table top? Why?

Show answerHide answer

No. It will spoil the table. Draw it in your exercise book. The Science Room must stay neat and tidy.

You see your friend using a cracked beaker. What should you do?

Show answerHide answer

Tell the teacher at once. Ask your friend to stop using it.

After an activity

Clean the apparatus after you use it. Put it back in its place.
Switch off all the fans and lights before you leave.

Pupils leave the Science Room while the fan and lights are still on — The pupils are leaving. Who will switch off the fan and lights?

Picture: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 25.

Why switch them off? So we do not waste electricity. Fans and lights use electricity even when nobody is in the room.

Did you know? Switching off things we are not using saves money. It is also good for our Earth. Do it at home too!

All the rules in order

Three boxes: before activity, during activity, after activity, with the rules in each — Science Room rules: before, during and after an activity.

My rules checklist

Rules help us build self-discipline. Self-discipline means you do the right thing on your own, even when nobody is watching. Tick the rules you always follow.

No.	I …	Tick
1	line up before entering the Science Room.
2	wear shoes that cover my feet.
3	do not eat or drink in the Science Room.
4	leave my bag outside the Science Room.
5	open the doors and windows.
6	do not run around or play.
7	take the apparatus in a proper and careful way.
8	do not do any activity without the teacher's instruction.
9	quickly tell the teacher about any injury or broken apparatus.
10	clean all the apparatus after use.
11	switch off all the fans and lights before leaving.

Checklist: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 26.

Make a rules fan

A paper fan with one Science Room rule on each blade — Write one rule on each blade. Hang it in your room!

Picture: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, p. 27.

Did you know? We can use these rules in other special rooms too: the library, the computer room, the music room and the surau.

Name five Science Room rules.

Show answerHide answer

Any five, for example: line up before entering; leave bags outside; wear shoes that cover the feet; open the doors and windows; do not eat or drink; do not run or play; take apparatus carefully; do not start without the teacher's instruction; tell the teacher about injuries or broken apparatus; clean the apparatus; switch off fans and lights before leaving.

Summary

When?	Rule	Why?
Before activity	Open all doors and windows	To let in light and fresh air
Before activity	Wear shoes that cover the feet	To keep our feet safe from injury
During activity	Take apparatus in a proper and careful way	So the apparatus or substance does not fall
During activity	Do not scribble on tables or break apparatus	To keep the Science Room neat and tidy
After activity	Switch off all fans and lights	So we do not waste electricity

Summary: Science Year 3 (DLP) textbook, "Let's Remember", p. 27.