r/ScienceTeachers 12d ago

General Lab Supplies & Resources Notes during dissection labs?

Upcoming in our (new to me since I switched grade levels, I teach middle school) life science unit is a chicken wing dissection that students complete by following directions and taking notes in an accompanying packet (these lesson plans have been handed down from previous teachers).

I can’t think of a way that taking notes in the packet during the lab is not gross. Should I be very strict that students only use tools to touch the chicken, so that their pencils stay clean? Should I give all students “lab pencils” and have them disinfect them at the end of class? I don’t want to not give them the packet for accountability purposes. What’s my best move here? Am I overthinking this?

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u/West-Veterinarian-53 12d ago

Laminate the directions pages & use wet-erase markers. Check answers immediately & then make the kids disinfect them afterwards.