There are so many creative ways you can set up STEM supplies in your classroom. I recently saw someone put a price tag on all their STEM bin supplies and even a charge by the minute on tools/items like scissors -What a BRILLIANT idea for developing financial literacy through critical and creative thinking!
This is just one way I chose to introduce STEM bins into my classroom…
I have a pink bin (pictured above) full of the following consumables along with a ‘not so pretty’ blue bin (not pictured above) overflowing with recyclable items/materials such as styrofoam, jars, egg cartons & boxes… LOTS of boxes!
The students have been explicitly taught & are becoming well-versed in completing ‘proposals’ that require approval from the teacher to explain what materials they would like to use from the pink bins.
Heres a resource list of consumable items you might like to think about including when purchasing your STEM supplies:
- metal coat hangers
- pipe cleaners
- candles (thick & thin)
- paper plates
- plastic plates
- wooden chopsticks
- coloured streamers
- straws
- balloons
- fishing line
- plastic spoons
- modelling clay
- marbles
- plastic cups
- paper cups
- batteries
- magnets
- paper tubes
- paddle pop sticks
- toothpicks
- gift ribbon
- masking tape
- sticky tape
- bubble wrap
- rubber bands