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August 15, 2006 Dear Parent or Guardian, Please carefully read the information in this packet that describes your child’s research project in Chemistry, Biology, and Statistics. We believe this project represents a wonderful and valuable learning opportunity for your child. We realize it is a lot of information to read but we believe it is very important that you understand all aspects of the project so that your child will meet with the highest level of success. The projects your child will be engaged in, What effect will a big box store have in your community? requires self-discipline and hard work. Please check on your child’s progress from time to time and feel free to contact us if you have any questions (school phone: 459-2222, E-mail: Allofus@school.com). The research project will require a substantial amount of out-of-class time. In particular, the final projects will require between 8 to 10 hours of outside work time, therefore, careful scheduling and planning on the part of your child will be necessary to complete his or her final project on time. The other assignments can generally be completed during class time if all goes well. A substantial amount of class time will be devoted to this project to offset the out of class time demands. This class time can be used by students to work on the project or to do work for other classes in order to free up after school time for project research. Students will be required to purchase a bound notebook for the project. Besides this notebook, all necessary materials will be provided by the school due to a generous grant from the Toyota Corporation. This project represents a significant commitment on your child’s part with regard to their education. By taking the biology course, your child has agreed to follow up with the chemistry course and to finish up with the statistics course. This project will constitute 25 percent of each courses final grade. A majority of this grade is the notebook and the final presentation. Please sign below so that I know that you have seen this letter and the following 6 pages. Please give particular attention to the discussion of project partners and to the project due date sheet. Thank you for your time and interest. Sincerely,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (please detach and return by your child) I have read
and understood
the project as outlined in this letter. Student’s
Name:
__________________________________ Flinn Scientific, Inc. "Your Safer Source for Science Supplies" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM Flinn Scientific's Student Safety Contract Purpose Science is a hands-on laboratory class. You will be doing many
laboratory
activities which require the use of hazardous chemicals. Safety in the
science
classroom is the #1 priority for students, teachers, and parents. To
ensure a
safe science classroom, a list of rules has been developed and provided
to you
in this student safety contract. These rules must be followed at all
times. Two
copies of the contract are provided. One copy must be signed by both
you and a
parent or guardian before you can participate in the laboratory. The
second
copy is to be kept in your science notebook as a constant reminder of
the
safety rules. General Guidelines 1.
Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the
laboratory. 2.
Follow all written
and verbal instructions carefully. If you do not understand a direction
or part
of a procedure, ask the instructor before proceeding. 3. Never
work alone.
No student may work in the laboratory without an instructor present. 4. When
first entering
a science room, do not touch any equipment, chemicals, or other
materials in
the laboratory area until you are instructed to do so. 5. Do
not eat food,
drink beverages, or chew gum in the laboratory. Do not use laboratory
glassware
as containers for food or beverages. 6.
Perform only those experiments authorized by the instructor. Never do
anything
in the laboratory that is not called for in the laboratory procedures
or by
your instructor. Carefully follow all instructions, both written and
oral.
Unauthorized experiments are prohibited. 7. Be
prepared for
your work in the laboratory. Read all procedures thoroughly before
entering the
laboratory. Never fool around in the laboratory. Horseplay, practical
jokes,
and pranks are dangerous and prohibited. 8.
Observe good housekeeping practices. Work areas should be kept clean
and tidy
at all times. Bring only your laboratory instructions, worksheets,
and/or
reports to the work area. Other materials (books, purses, backpacks,
etc.)
should be stored in the classroom area. 9. Keep
aisles clear.
Push your chair under the desk when not in use. 10. Know the
locations and
operating procedures of all safety equipment including the first aid
kit,
eyewash station, safety shower, fire extinguisher, and fire blanket.
Know where
the fire alarm and the exits are located. 11. Always work in a
well-ventilated area. Use the fume hood when working with volatile
substances
or poisonous vapors. Never place your head into the fume hood. 12. Be alert and
proceed with
caution at all times in the laboratory. Notify the instructor
immediately of
any unsafe conditions you observe. 13.
Dispose of all chemical waste properly. Never mix chemicals in sink
drains.
Sinks are to be used only for water and those solutions designated by
the
instructor. Solid chemicals, metals, matches, filter paper, and all
other
insoluble materials are to be disposed of in the proper waste
containers, not
in the sink. Check the label of all waste containers twice before
adding your
chemical waste to the container. 14. Labels and
equipment
instructions must be read carefully before use. Set up and use the
prescribed
apparatus as directed in the laboratory instructions or by your
instructor. 15. Keep hands away
from face,
eyes, mouth and body while using chemicals or preserved specimens. Wash
your
hands with soap and water after performing all experiments. Clean (with
detergent), rinse, and wipe dry all work surfaces (including the sink)
and
apparatus at the end of the experiment. Return all equipment clean and
in
working order to the proper storage area. 16.
Experiments must be personally monitored at all times. You will be
assigned a
laboratory station at which to work. Do not wander around the room,
distract
other students, or interfere with the laboratory experiments of others.
17.
Students are never permitted in the science storage rooms or
preparation areas
unless given specific permission by their instructor. 18. Know what to do
if there is a
fire drill during a laboratory period; containers must be closed, gas
valves
turned off, fume hoods turned off, and any electrical equipment turned
off. 19. Handle all
living organisms
used in a laboratory activity in a humane manner. Preserved biological
materials are to be treated with respect and disposed of properly. 20. When using
knives and other
sharp instruments, always carry with tips and points pointing down and
away.
Always cut away from your body. Never try to catch falling sharp
instruments.
Grasp sharp instruments only by the handles. Clothing 21. Any time
chemicals, heat, or
glassware are used, students will wear laboratory goggles. There will
be no exceptions
to this rule! 22. Contact lenses
should not be
worn in the laboratory unless you have permission from your instructor.
23. Dress properly
during a
laboratory activity. Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy
clothing
are a hazard in the laboratory. Long hair must be tied back and
dangling
jewelry and loose or baggy clothing must be secured. Shoes must
completely
cover the foot. No sandals allowed. 24. Lab aprons have
been provided
for your use and should be worn during laboratory activities. Accidents and Injuries 25. Report any
accident (spill,
breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) to the instructor
immediately, no
matter how trivial it may appear. 26. If you or your
lab partner are
hurt, immediately yell out "Code one, Code one" to get the
instructor's attention. 27. If a chemical
should splash in
your eye (s) or on your skin, immediately flush with running water from
the
eyewash station or safety shower for at least 20 minutes. Notify the
instructor
immediately. 28. When mercury
thermometers are
broken, mercury must not be touched. Notify the instructor immediately.
Handling Chemicals 29. All chemicals in
the
laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Do not touch, taste, or
smell any
chemicals unless specifically instructed to do so. The proper technique
for
smelling chemical fumes will be demonstrated to you. 30. Check the label
on chemical
bottles twice before removing any of the contents. Take only as much
chemical
as you need. 31. Never return
unused chemicals
to their original containers. 32. Never use mouth
suction to
fill a pipet. Use a rubber bulb or pipet pump. 33. When
transferring reagents
from one container to another, hold the containers away from your body.
34. Acids must be
handled with
extreme care. You will be shown the proper method for diluting strong
acids.
Always add acid to water, swirl or stir the solution and be careful of
the heat
produced, particularly with sulfuric acid. 35. Handle flammable
hazardous
liquids over a pan to contain spills. Never dispense flammable liquids
anywhere
near an open flame or source of heat. 36. Never remove
chemicals or
other materials from the laboratory area. 37. Take great care
when
transferring acids and other chemicals from one part of the laboratory
to
another. Hold them securely and walk carefully. Handling Glassware and Equipment
38. Carry glass
tubing, especially
long pieces, in a vertical position to minimize the likelihood of
breakage and
injury. 39. Never handle broken
glass with your
bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place
broken or
waste glassware in the designated glass disposal container. 40.
Inserting and removing glass tubing from rubber stoppers can be
dangerous.
Always lubricate glassware (tubing, thistle tubes, thermometers, etc.)
before
attempting to insert it in a stopper. Always protect your hands with
towels or
cotton gloves when inserting glass tubing into, or removing it from, a
rubber
stopper. If a piece of glassware becomes "frozen" in a stopper, take
it to your instructor for removal. 41. Fill wash
bottles only with
distilled water and use only as intended, e.g., rinsing glassware and
equipment, or adding water to a container. 42. When removing an
electrical plug
from its socket, grasp the plug, not the electrical cord. Hands must be
completely dry before touching an electrical switch, plug, or outlet. 43.
Examine glassware before each use. Never use chipped or cracked
glassware.
Never use dirty glassware. 44. Report damaged
electrical equipment
immediately. Look for things such as frayed cords, exposed wires, and
loose
connections. Do not use damaged electrical equipment. 45. If you do not
understand how to use
a piece of equipment, ask the instructor for help. 46. Do not immerse hot
glassware in cold
water; it may shatter. Heating Substances 47.
Exercise extreme caution when using a gas burner. Take care that hair,
clothing
and hands are a safe distance from the flame at all times. Do not put
any
substance into the flame unless specifically instructed to do so. Never
reach
over an exposed flame. Light gas (or alcohol) burners only as
instructed by the
teacher. 48. Never leave a lit
burner unattended.
Never leave anything that is being heated or is visibly reacting
unattended.
Always turn the burner or hot plate off when not in use. 49. You will be instructed
in the proper
method of heating and boiling liquids in test tubes. Do not point the
open end
of a test tube being heated at yourself or anyone else. 50. Heated metals and
glass remain very
hot for a long time. They should be set aside to cool and picked up
with
caution. Use tongs or heat-protective gloves if necessary. 51. Never look into a
container that is
being heated. 52. Do not place hot
apparatus directly
on the laboratory desk. Always use an insulating pad. Allow plenty of
time for
hot apparatus to cool before touching it. 53. When bending glass,
allow time for
the glass to cool before further handling. Hot and cold glass have the
same
visual appearance. Determine if an object is hot by bringing the back
of your
hand close to it prior to grasping it. Questions 54. Do you wear contact
lenses? YES NO 55. Are you color
blind? YES NO 56. Do you have
allergies? YES NO If so, list specific allergies Agreement I, ____________________, have read and agree to follow all of
the safety
rules set forth in this contract. I realize that I must obey these
rules to
insure my own safety, and that of my fellow students and instructors. I
will
cooperate to the fullest extent with my instructor and fellow students
to
maintain a safe lab environment. I will also closely follow the oral
and
written instructions provided by the instructor. I am aware that any
violation
of this safety contract that results in unsafe conduct in the
laboratory or
misbehavior on my part, may result in being removed from the
laboratory,
detention, receiving a failing grade, and/or dismissal from the course.
Student Signature:
___________________________________ Date: _____________________________________________ Dear Parent or Guardian: We feel that you should be informed regarding the
school´s effort to create
and maintain a safe science classroom/laboratory environment. With the
cooperation of the instructors, parents, and students, a safety
instruction
program can eliminate, prevent, and correct possible hazards. You
should be
aware of the safety instructions your son/daughter will receive before
engaging
in any laboratory work. Please read the list of safety rules above. No
student
will be permitted to perform laboratory activities unless this contract
is
signed by both the student and parent/guardian and is on file with the
teacher.
Your signature on this contract indicates that you have read
this Student
Safety Contract, are aware of the measures taken to insure the safety
of your
son/daughter in the science laboratory, and will instruct your
son/daughter to
uphold his/her agreement to follow these rules and procedures in the
laboratory. Parent/Guardian Signature:
____________________________________ Date: ____________________________________________________ FLINN SCIENTIFIC, INC. "Your Safer Source for Science Supplies" P.O. Box 219, Batavia, IL 60510 (800) 452-1261 / Fax: (630) 879-6962 E-mail: flinn@flinnsci.com Web Site: www.flinnsci.com © 1998 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction permission
is granted to science teachers who are current customers of Flinn
Scientific,
Inc. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, but not limited to
photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system,
without
permission in writing from Flinn Scientific, Inc. |
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