Process Skills | Homework | Misconceptions in Science | Commonly Used Materials in Science | Science Lab Safety
Commonly Used Materials in Science
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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 |
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Sources of Supplies and Equipmentfor Elementary Science
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.
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.
For supplies that need to come from a supply house, here is a limited list of science supply catalogs. In addition to their catalog, note that Chemshop has two store locations in Utah.
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American Science & Surplus/Jerryco |
Dale Seymour Publications |
| 601 Linden Place | P.O. Box 10888 |
| Evanston, IL 60202 | Palo Alto, CA 94303-0879 |
| Arbor Scientific | Delta Education |
| P.O. Box 2750 | P.O. Box 915 |
| Ann Arbor, MI 48106-2750 | Hudson, NH 03051-0915 |
| Astronomical Society of the Pacific | Denoyer-Geppert Science Co.l |
| 390 Ashton Ave. | 5225 Ravenswood Ave. |
| San Francisco, CA 94112 | Chicago, IL 60640-2028 |
| Brock Optical | Didax Educational Resources |
| P.O. Box 940831 | One Centennial Dr. |
| Maitland, FL 32794 | Peabody, MA 01960 |
| Carolina Biological Supply Co. | Edmund Scientific |
| 2700 York Rd. | 101 E. Gloucester Pike |
| Burlington, NC 27215 | Barrington, NJ 08007-1380 |
| Celestial Products, Inc. | Educational Rocks & Minerals |
| P.O. Box 801 | P.O. Box 574 |
| Middleburg, VA 22117 | Florence, MA 01060 |
| Central Scientific Co. (CENCO) | Energy Sciences |
| 11222 Melrose Ave. | 16728 Oakmont Ave. |
| Franklin Park, IL 60131 | Gaithersburg, MD 20877 |
| Chem Shop | Estes Industries |
| 1151 S. Redwood Rd. | 1295 H St. |
| Salt Lake City, UT 84104 | Penrose, CO 81240 |
| (Also west of the I-15 freeway | |
| at the Centerville exit) | Fisher Scientific |
| 4901 W. LeMoyne St. | |
| Creative Teaching Associates | Chicago, IL 60651 |
| P.O. Box 7766 | |
| Fresno, CA 93747 | Flinn Scientific, Inc. |
| 131 Flinn St. | |
| Cuisenaire Co. of America, Inc. | P.O. Box 219 |
| P.O. Box 5026 | Batavia, IL 60510 |
| White Plains, NY 10602-5026 | |
| Frey Scientific | Northwest Scientific Supply Co., Inc. |
| 905 Hickory Lane | 4311 Anthony Ct., #700 |
| P.O. Box 8101 | P.O. Box 305 |
| Mansfield, OH 44901-8101 | Rocklin, CA 95677 |
| Grau-Hall Scientific | Ohaus Corp. |
| 6501 Elvas Ave. | 29 Hanover Rd. |
| Sacramento, CA 95819 | Florham Park, NJ 07932 |
| Hawks, Owls & Wildlife | Pasco Scientific |
| R.D. 1, Box 293 | 10101 Foothills Blvd. |
| Buskirk, NY 12028 | Roseville, CA 95678 |
| Ideal School Supply Co. | Radio Shack |
| 11000 S. Lavergne Ave. | Tandy Corp. |
| Oak Lawn, IL 60453 | Fort Worth, TX 76102 |
| Innovative Plastic Design | Sargent-Welch |
| 7045 S. State | 911 Commerce Ct. |
| Salt Lake City, UT 84047 | Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 |
| Insights Visual Productions | Schoolmasters Science |
| P.O. Box 230644 | 745 State Circle |
| Encinitas, CA 92023-0644 | Box 1941 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | |
| Let’s Get Growing | Science Kit |
| 1900-B Commercial Way | 777 E. Park Dr. |
| Santa Cruz, CA 95065 | Tonawanda, NY 14150 |
| Nasco | Science Man, The |
| 901 Janesville Ave. | P.O. Box 2121F |
| Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0901 | Harwood Hts., IL 60656 |
| National Geographic Society | Scott Resources |
| 1145 17th St, NW | P.O. Box 2121F |
| Washington, DC 20036 | Ft. Collins, CO 80522 |
| National Wildlife Federation | Southwest Mineral Supply |
| 1400 Sixteenth St. NW | P.O. Box 323 |
| Washington, DC 20036-2266 | Santa Fe, NM 87504 |
| Summit Learning | Tap Plastics |
| P.O. Box 493F | 6475 Sierra Lane |
| Ft. Collins, CO 80522 | Dublin, CA 94568 |
| Teachers’ Laboratory, Inc. | Tops Learning Systems |
| P.O. Box 6480 | 10970 S. Mulino Rd. |
| Brattleboro, VT 05302-6480 | Canby, OR 97013 |
| Uptown Sales, Inc. | Ward’s National Science, Inc. |
| 33 N. Main St. | P.O. Box 92912 |
| Chambersburg, PA 17201 | Rochester, NY 14692-9012 |
Process Skills | Homework | Misconceptions in Science | Commonly Used Materials in Science | Science Lab Safety