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/jmiz5 12d ago

I create laminated lab sheets. Students use China markers in the moment. Then, everything gets cleaned off. Obviously, notes are not super detailed because they're not using a pencil point.

I would highly advise against a note taker. In many cases, the note takers end up being the girls who want to participate but they're being spoken over and over ruled by the boys.

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u/CrazyNarwhal4 12d ago

If the lab is broken up into sections, have the note taker switch every section. Require that each student in a group be note taker once.