What is the difference between taking a science class and a science lab class?

Science class is the actual instruction
Science lab us the experiments

science class is where you learn the theory

science lab is where you apply the theory in your experiments

remembered a physics lab from HS
we had an experiment that stretched a 6 inch slinky 20 feet across the room with a
6 foot cord on either end (we had to cut the cord and tie on)

we did the tasks - examples - pull it out 6" from center - how many cycles
go back and forth - and so on - for 10 examples

teacher was really mad as he thought we copied the back of the book answers

we swore we did it - O YEAH - I'll show you  that you guys cheated

he got down on his knees - and was ASTOUNDED when the first
example that HE did was on the money - then he tried #2
(this guy was hot to have our butt in a sling) #3 was great also
by #4 he was shaking his head - in 20 years I've have NEVER
seen a perfect setup - and you guys did it - A+

whew - that was lab

all the best