What does every first-time middle school science teacher need? Courage, a sense of humor, patience, energy, and a few specific items:
Updated Periodic Table
In late 2016, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) updated the periodic table with names for four recently synthesized elements, nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og). This is big news, and every classroom needs an updated periodic table with the new elements and their names.
More on Tennessine in a future post!
Cool Safety Goggles
Demonstrate good safety procedures by wearing goggles when your students wear goggles. But take my advice and get a pair that you can stand to wear all day! This anti-fog pair fits over eyeglasses and will protect your eyes from projectiles or chemical splashes. Don’t wear the student versions. For experiments that don’t involve chemicals, opt instead for safety glasses like these colorful and comfortable wraparound glasses.
Cool Toys
Source: Steve Spangler Science
Your students will learn a lot of science concepts from you, but it’s equally important to encourage curiosity and wonder. That’s easy with just about everything from Steve Spangler Science. Here’s a cool kit designed specifically for the First Days of School. It includes some single-use and some reusable items.
Science Clothes
Svaha dress
Check the dress code of your school and get some science clothes! Good sources include Svaha Inc, Thinkgeek, UncommonGoods (especially for jewelry), and Etsy. Wearing this stuff shows kids how much you love science!
Disclaimer
This whole post is an exercise and experiment in using affiliate links! I’m trying out a combination of Amazon Associates and Shareasale. When you click and buy something, I get a little bonus! (I even get something if you become a Shareasale affiliate using the links in this paragraph! Shareasale has thousands of merchants participating.) And it doesn’t cost you any more. Let me know if any of these links don’t work. Thanks!
