In my Facebook community for middle school science teachers, I’ve noticed numerous discussions all centered around one central topic: what items should a science teacher have for their classroom? As I’ve participated in the discussions and offered a few thoughts of my own, it’s gotten me really thinking about which classroom supplies I consider to be absolutely “essential.” Whether you are going shopping for your own supplies, requesting school supplies from the administration or putting together an Amazon wishlist, here are my must have items for middle school science classrooms!
STEM activities are the bread and butter of science classrooms. These hands on science activities give students the chance to explore, experiment, and think critically, Not to mention, STEM activities and science labs are so much fun! SO, what kind of science supplies will you need for your STEM activities? While each individual activity will have it’s own supply list, there are a few staple items I like to keep on hand.
These supplies can be acquired in a variety of ways. A trip to the dollar store is an easy way to grab a bunch of classroom essential items. You may also consider having your students collect items from their homes. (Things like toilet paper rolls, grocery bags, empty plastic water bottles, etc.) You could offer a participation grade for students who bring in household items or hold a competition between class periods, offering an incentive for the class who brings in the greatest number of STEM supplies.
I am a huge fan of using interactive student notebooks with my middle school students! We use these notebooks to hold important documents and notes that students take throughout each class unit. To learn the in’s and out’s of how I use interactive student notebooks within my middle school science classroom, check out this blog post! When it comes to establishing interactive notebooks practice with your science students, there are a few supplies you and your students will need.
You may choose to have students keep a set of supplies (glue, scissors, colored pencils) for their own personal use, or you may find it easier to collect all supplies at the beginning of the school year to be used collectively by all students.
Let’s establish an essential truth that applies to students of all ages: Students are messy! There, I said it! Throw in science experiments or lab and your classroom can become an absolute mess in a short period of time. Relying solely on custodians to keep a middle school science classroom clean just simply won’t cut it. Having a stash of your own classroom cleaning supplies are must haves for the middle school science teacher!
What about those miscellaneous items that just come in handy? Don’t worry, I’ve got a list of those for you too! To run an efficient and organized science classroom, there are a few supplies that make the life of you as a teacher just a little bit easier. (Now doesn’t THAT sound appealing?!) Here are my top must have items for middle school science classrooms – teacher edition!
Remember, these are supplies intended for teacher use. I recommend keeping them in a safe cabinet or drawer away from students hands. As we all know, supplies shared with students just won’t be the same after middle school use. It’s okay to set aside a stash of school supplies just for you!
Alright, let’s talk student supplies! These are the items you students will need and use on a regular basis within your science classroom. Having access to these supplies can make day to day life within your classroom easier and smoother for everyone. Here are my top must have items for middle school science classrooms – student style!
You’ve probably noticed that some of the items on this student list are repeated from the teacher supply list. This was intentional. Remember: it’s okay for you to set aside supplies just for YOU. Having a “teacher set” and a “student set” of things like dry erase markers is always a good idea.
It wouldn’t be a science class without supplies for labs, demonstrations, and experiments! When it comes to purchasing lab equipment, there are a few items I’d put on my essentials list:
Depending on the specific science discipline you teach, you may have additional items that go on your annual equipment list. For example, biology teachers may require dissection kits and physical science teachers may find electric circuit kits helpful.
All students enjoy the occasional reward for a job well done! Whether these rewards are offered spontaneously or are an incentive your students work to achieve, it’s a good idea to have a few prizes or treats on hand. Here are a few of my go-to “prize box” options:
I like to pull these rewards out when students are doing a great job following directions! They also make a good prize for in class review games.
It’s completely free! Just click the image and it’ll take you straight to the PDF!
Continue the discussion in my Facebook Group for Middle School Science Teachers or my Classroom Management Facebook Group.
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