The challenges of managing behaviour in the chemistry lab

A chemistry teacher demonstrating a practical while her student exhibit some worrying behaviour

Source: © Adam Larkum via IllustrationX

Take a look at the humorous side of everyday chemistry classroom shenanigans

Classroom and behaviour management are some of the most difficult aspects of teaching. Our students are individuals and have free will; they are teenagers trying to navigate their way in the world. This is the same for every teacher no matter what subject they teach, but the chemistry learning environment can be especially challenging. Here, teacher fellow Kristy Turner opens up her classroom to share some of the more humorous and challenging aspects of managing behaviour in a chemistry lab – with all its trinkets, chemicals and other distractors. 

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.