Florida Department of Education, 2015
The use of laboratory investigations has played a vital role in distinguishing science from most other disciplines encountered in the classroom. Just as scientists acquire knowledge through a process of experimentation, students learn to appreciate how this wealth of knowledge was accumulated by simulating this same investigative process.
Without the laboratory experience as an integral part of the scientific process, only facts can be memorized. A true feeling for the process is lost. It is of vital importance that a laboratory component be incorporated into the science curriculum.
Once the laboratory component has been added to a curriculum, it becomes necessary for a teacher to understand that additional safety requirements and procedures must be implemented. These additions will provide for a more safe and meaningful experience for students
