9 Things to Buy for your Middle School Science Classroom
My top 9 must haves for my middle school science classroom. Whether you are new to this grade level, or just looking to add some fresh ideas, these must haves made a huge difference for me. I compiled a list of my favorite items that have made my classroom much more fun, engaging and organized.
#1 Laminator: I laminate everything I plan on using more than once, especially if it is printed in color. These personal lamination sheets work so well for games and activities because the lamination is thicker than the big school laminators. The lamination is durable and can be written on with dry or wet erase markers. As you can see in the picture, it is so durable I can put a spinner through them for game play. Of course if you’re going to have your own personal laminator you will need sheets. These can be found in boxes of 200 for a great price they often go on sale on Amazon.
#2 Trays: Any time I set up a lab or activity for students, I place the activities on these trays for easy transportation and clean up for my students. I have also found that I don’t lose as many supplies. I number my trays and tables so Table 1 has their own tray and they know exactly the inventory of what is on their tray. This makes it a quick and easy clean up process. It's easy to see if a specific table is missing anything. Trays are definitely necessary for a middle school science classroom.
#3 Card Boxes: These card boxes have been so advantageous for me this school year, I use them for card sorts and game pieces. We do a lot of card sorts in my classroom, and they help keep the sets separated. I noticed that when I put the cards in these boxes there were many less “lost” cards than when I use an envelope or paperclip. Of course, it is fun to color code them with the trays so students know which box of cards belongs to their group.
#4 Spinners: Spinners have been a lifesaver on my dry-erase protective sleeves. If I play a game using a spinner, oftentimes I will have students use the trusty ole method of using a paperclip and pencil. This can take a toll on my protective sleeves. One method that works really well is to laminate the game, with the sturdy personal lamination sleeves, then attach one of these. They add another level of entertainment to the partner games.
#5 Clipboards: Any good scientist needs a clipboard! You look so official when you’re working on a clipboard! This is another surprising item that keeps my students excited and engaged. I use them when students are getting up and moving around the classroom. Oftentimes students will request to use a clipboard on activities even if they aren’t out. We also do many task card activities that I make more engaging by hanging them around in the hallway. This gets students moving, intrigued and adds a sense of professionalism to the day.
#6 Dice: Another item I bought for my middle school classroom was beautiful colorful dice. It doesn’t matter what the age, if dice are put out for the day the students will be excited and engaged. We use dice several times a unit for partner games. This keeps the students actively reviewing or learning a concept. And, aren’t they just so pretty? How can you resist all the colors!
#7 Dry-Erase Sleeves: If you follow us on Instagram @BodenKelly Science you will often see pictures with these sleeves in them. If this list was in order, these might be at the top. We use them often in our lessons, they save on copying and laminating. If I feel like a game, or activity is important enough to copy in color, I will often just make one class set and place them in the protective sleeves. These are perfect for partner games because it allows students to play multiple times, simply use a dry erase marker and students can erase and play again. It is also easy to clean between classes.
#8 Colored Pencils: I use these for color coding, note taking, partner games and vocabulary color-by-codes. Markers tend to leak through the paper, so colored pencils are a handy tool to have around. They are often on sale in the summer, so I stock up.
#9 Cups: The last item in my top 9 things to purchase for your middle school classroom are cups. Cups may sound like an interesting item to have on the list but they have saved my organizational habits. I use them for beginning of the year teamwork activities (cup stacking), science games, holding liquids for labs and for organizing lab materials. I have a set of cups labeled for each table as well. When we are doing activities that need little items I use the labeled cups to quickly see which table has all of the materials. The ones pictured were purchased at the Dollar Tree, they come in sets of 3 for $1!
Of course, this is a short list of items I use in my classroom. These are the top 9 that are in my frequent rotation. Have fun shopping! It's always exciting to get new things, even if they are for your classroom.
