That’s right! Let’s save you some money! I hope you have a Dollar Tree close to your home because this post is dedicated to shopping at that great little market and getting supplies for your STEM and Science classroom!
Which of those dollar bargains are not really bargains? I’ll tell you about those, too!
One of the things I hear from blog readers, fellow teachers, and just friends is that supplying a science room or STEM lab is costly. Yes, it can be! But some of the best STEM challenges we have completed were made from straws! STRAWS and masking tape, TONS of masking tape.
To make my classroom work with a budget in mind I shop at dollar stores, specifically the Dollar Tree. If you don’t have one close by, try Dollar General, but do some comparison shopping before you purchase things.
Are you ready for 15 ideas for shopping?
STRAWS
Okay, here’s a secret. Wal-mart has packs of 100 straws at a cheaper price. but the DT straws are better. They are longer.
CUPS
Foam cups. We use these all the time for so many things. I can usually find them in two sizes at the DT. Avoid the red plastic cups- smaller packages than Wal Mart or Target.
PLASTIC CONTAINERS
Another secret. These can be costly at Wal-Mart unless you get the WM brand. But the ones at the DT are just as good and less expensive. We use these for storage, projects, water containers, dipping containers, support base, and more. The Dollar Tree version doesn’t always snap closed well, but we are not storing food, so it’s okay.
FOIL
Oh my goodness, we use foil all the time. I buy the largest roll I can find at WM and it is about $15. It is a heavier quality than the DT, but I have not found that to be important. So, I started getting the foil boxes there. Then I found these foil sheets. They are pre-cut so you can just pull out a sheet for each group. Can you say easy? Saves a little time, too!
FOAM BOARD and SHEETS
Did you know you can get foam board at the DT? At WM it’s $3-$7 and at Hobby Lobby it’s even more. We use foam board for connectors, bridges, ramps, and other projects.
The foam sheets are pre-cut. They are thin and you might want the thicker kind, but these have worked well for us. A pack has about 5-6 different colors. We use these a lot.
MODELING DOUGH
DT has two sizes of cans of play-dough. It is almost always good quality and for what we use it for it has worked fine. I even save the little empty containers in case we ever need them!
Okay, these items are not essential, but just good ideas.
NOTEPADS– I have little pads like these at each workspace. The kids use them often to just jot things down. You can get a pack of 3-4 little notepads at the DT.
LITTLE CARS– Last spring we did a challenge that involved little cars and I found them at WM for 78 cents, but at the DT you can get a pack of 3. If you ever need little cars!
BINDER CLIPS– We have used these in projects and I use them all the time to clip papers together. At Staples a big pack is costly!
FOIL PANS– We have used pans like this for lots of things. Erosion experiments for one thing. You can get all sizes at DT and usually in a pack of 3-4. They make great carrying trays or drip trays, too.
BROOMS– Every lab table in my classroom has its own broom and dustpan. I do not clean up after kids! This year I may get more of these so that every table has 2 sets and I also have 4 large brooms! We are very messy!
A Few More Ideas
SAFETY GOGGLES– I have lots of these and kids love them. LOVE THEM. If you don’t have sets ask local businesses for donations (that’s where I got mine) or you can get them for $1.
RUBBER GLOVES– I use these yellow ones for cleaning things myself. For the kids, I buy the large packs of latex gloves at WM. Only they are not really latex- they are made of something else. In a pinch, I also borrow them from the custodian closet…..just sayin’
PLASTIC BINS– Of course, you need these! But I bet you already have ten tons of baskets and bins. Dishpans are another item we use all the time!
Don’t be fooled!
Craft Sticks -Don’t buy craft sticks there! That photo is showing you a pack of 80, I think. Wal-Mart sells a box of 1000 for $4.99. Hobby Lobby also has a box of 1000.
INDEX CARDS– Don’t be fooled. These are cheaper at Wal-Mart and thicker cards.
And there you have it! Easy supplies from the dollar store! Best of all, you can add these to a list sent home to parents and they will actually buy this stuff for you because it’s only one dollar!
