Designing the Perfect School Science Lab
By: Ciara McGrath
School science laboratories seem to always be designed by accountants. They are generally poorly laid out and ill equipped to serve their purpose. I have taught in many of these disasters and have designed other labs that have been a pleasure to teach in.
It would be nice if price was not a constraining factor in all school building design, but it is. The best way to approach the design of your lab is from the standpoint of what you need, and then pare it down if the total cost is over budget.
A school laboratory is usually larger than the average classroom. This is because it may have 35 students moving around it, flames from Bunsen burners, sinks, electrical equipment, and glassware, all at the same time, as well as writing materials, computers and boards. The whole setup sounds impossible.
Ideally, you need to separate student writing areas from student experimental areas. The easiest way to do this is to have sinks, electrical outlets, and workbenches around the three sides of the room. Cupboards for glassware and electrical equipment will slot underneath these workbenches.
There needs to be a clear walkway all around the room in front of these workbenches, so that students can move about safely. The fourth side of the room will be where the board and teacher's bench are.
You will need fume hoods, or fume cupboards, with extraction facilities to the outside. School fume hoods are not used very often, because the chemicals used in school labs are not particularly noxious.
Fume hoods are best situated on the wall with the board and the teacher's area. Using a fume hood with a class is largely impractical because of the logistics issues involved with 35 students wanting to use one or two small spaces at the same time. These areas will be used infrequently and only briefly.
You will also need desks or benches for students to sit at to write at and for non-practical lessons. These workbenches will are best situated about five feet away from the perimeter work benches. The exact arrangement of these workspaces will depend on the dimensions of your laboratory.
A fan arrangement works well, with the desks end on to where the teacher stands. Other possibilities include joined groups of desks and desks tee-ed off the teacher's desk. Groups of desks make for more chatter amongst your students.
If you are installing an LCD projector, then consider mounting it from the ceiling where it projects to the board at the front.
That gives you your perfect school laboratory. But, you will almost certainly be over budget at this point. So, how can you reduce the cost?
1. Cut the number of sinks
This is a large cost saving, but it is disastrous in terms of increasing student movement during experimental work. Consider long sinks at the back of the worktop, though.
2. Cut the number of electrical outlets.
This will provide a small savings.
3. Cut the number of cupboards.
With this option, there are large savings possible, but doing so increases student movement around the laboratory. Also, where do you put all the equipment?
4. Have just one fume hood.
This yields large savings, and you will rarely use it anyway.
Hopefully, this article provides some good information as you go about the process of designing (or re-designing) your school’s science laboratory classroom(s).
Ciara McGrath taught chemistry for 28 years and has set up several labs.
Product Roundup: Lab Equipment
zPix 200 from Carson Optical
Carson Optical has introduced new generation zPix 200 (MM-740) digital microscope. The new zPix provides improved, crystal clear images, courtesy of a 1.3 mega pixel enhancement. The zPix is a fun, educational, multi-functional tool offering quality at an extraordinary value. It can serve as an affordable and efficient teaching aide; it allows a whole classroom to gather around a computer screen and study the same specimen at the same time. The zPix 200 brings the world of discovery into close focus with its 1.3 mega pixel resolution PC camera and 5X optical zoom lens system.
www.carsonoptical.com
CartWrite
Why do CartWrite customers order again and again? Because they are satisfied. “The lab looks great.” “The kids are enthusiastic, and the parents are impressed.” CartWrite offers a full line of computer, science and activity tables, laptop storage carts, and mobile media cabinets. Each table, cart, cabinet and chair has its own page on the Web site with all the details you need to make an informed decision, such as features, dimensions, and pricing, which includes free shipping. CartWrite listens to customers’ needs and meets their budget requirements.
www.cartwrite.com
Spectrum IPM Scope from Forestry Suppliers
This digital microscope combines the power of a digital camera, precision optics, LED lighting, and an imaging software package to produce a powerful magnification tool. The IPM Scope displays the magnified image directly on your computer monitor, and the 40-140x magnification allows you to zoom in on fine details that may be too small to be seen with the naked eye. You can even add labels, make measurements, or draw on the image, and images can also be archived, printed, or sent via e-mail. Forestry Suppliers offers a wide selection of microscopes and lab equipment.
www.forestry-suppliers.com
STEM Solutions from PCS Edventures
PCS Edventures is a comprehensive provider of lab equipment for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). They have provided engaging, hands-on, STEM products and curriculum to educators for the past two decades and have developed a comprehensive K12 STEM approach that enables schools and districts to deploy planned, systemic programs for boosting STEM involvement and achievement. With 4,000 labs implemented in the United States and 15 countries, they continue to provide schools and after-school programs with the top STEM products on the market today.
www.edventures.com/csp
Imprint Products from Sheldon Laboratory Systems
Sheldon Laboratory Systems’ unique Imprint Products bring form and function together in a desk system that helps teaching and learning work together seamlessly. Hands-on learning never made more sense for elementary and middle school students. Linear scales, number lines, English and metric units, grids, protractors…all are featured on this product line to help students unlock mysteries in the world of science. Each surface is tough and versatile, covered with phenolic resin so that dry erase markers or grease pencils can be used to record data and chart discoveries.
www.sheldonlabs.com
Adam’s 610g TBB Triple Beam
Trusted reliability, helpful classroom features, and smart pricing put the TBB 610 Triple Beam at the head of its class. It is ideal for demonstrating mass measurement concepts and for dependable everyday classroom weighing. All TBB Triple Beams offer an assortment of valuable classroom features, including built-in security slot to protect from theft; weigh-below hook, protractor, ruler, and conversion chart right on the housing; plus wider body for added sturdiness for student use.
www.adamequipment.com/education
