A-Z Site Index

• Using the Teacher Resource Book
• Core Curriculum/ILOs
• Instructional Strategies
• Science Helps
• Starters
• I - Earth and Moon
• II - Organisms
• III - Forces
• IV - Gravity
• V - Sun

Science Helps

Process Skills Homework Misconceptions in Science
Commonly Used Materials in Science Science Lab Safety

Commonly Used Materials in Science

Supplies and Equipment Commonly Used in Elementary Science

Aluminum foil Aquarium Baby food jars Baking soda Bags (paper, plastic) Balances Balloons Barometer Buttons Cages Candles Compasses Construction paper Copper wire Cotton Craft sticks Dowels Dry cells Egg cartons Extension cords Flashlight Flashlight bulbs Food coloring Funnels Gallon cans Glass jars

Glue Hammer Hot plate Iron filings Magnets Magnifiers Matches Measuring cups Medicine droppers Metersticks Metric weights Microscopes Mirrors Modeling clay Paper cups Paper towels Pill bottles Pipe cleaners Plastic spoons Plastic wrap Pliers Pulleys Rock collections Rope Rubber bands Rulers (metric)

Salt Sand Sandpaper Saw Screwdriver Scissors Seeds Shoe boxes Soda straws Sponges Steel wool String Styrofoam cups Sugar Tape (masking, cellophane) Thermometers (Celsius and Fahrenheit) Tongs Toothpicks Tuning fork Tweezers Vinegar Wax Waxed paper Wind vane

Materials and Equipment Matrix (Blank)

Use this grid to organize the materials and equipment needed to teach science. You could use this matrix to list materials you need by lesson. Or, consider using this grid to list the materials you have and their quantities or locations.

Equipment and Materials

 

Sources of Supplies and Equipment for Elementary Science

School Science Resource Audit

As your first source of science supplies, consider conducting a “science resource audit” within your school. It is not uncommon for teachers to find many science resources in a school where they had thought no science materials existed. Have each teacher explore his/her own classroom and make a list of science books, hand lenses, microscopes, litmus paper, and all other science supplies that are there. Also search the school supply rooms, supply closets, and media center. Prepare a master list of all materials and decide where to store them. Give each teacher a copy of the list and the location of each item.

This exercise is often very productive in turning up microscopes, filmstrips, magnets, and other science materials that have been out of circulation and forgotten.

Getting Local Help in Acquiring Additional Supplies

Next, identify the most needed items that do not appear on the collective list and begin making plans to acquire them. Even a few dollars at time can eventually make quite a difference. In addition to school funds, consider parent-teacher organizations and local civic clubs. These organizations seek projects and are anxious to know where help is needed. Students can raise funds for science materials by selling popcorn, cookies, brownies, etc., if such activities are allowed within school district policy.

Also consider asking parents for help. Parents are often more than willing to send a package of balloons, paper cups, aluminum foil, or any one of a number of other items that are needed for science activities if they know what the needs are. Prepare a list of needed items. Send the list home with students, along with a note of appreciation telling the family if they could help by providing one or more of the items on the list, it would make a meaningful conributioin to the science program. This of course must be voluntary; students and parents should feel no pressure to contribute.

Also be certain that this effort has administrative support before making requests of parents.

Catalog Sources

For supplies that need to come from a supply house, here is a limited list of science supply catalogs.