What a lab period actually looks like

Practical work is the part of science teaching most likely to be described in a prospectus and least likely to be described accurately. So here is one period, timed.

The first six minutes are safety and setup. Minutes seven to twelve are the demonstration. Students work from minute thirteen to thirty-two — that is nineteen minutes of hands-on time, which is less than most parents assume and more than most schools manage. The last eight minutes are cleanup and the exit question.