20 Must-Have Earth Science Lab Supplies

The unfortunate thing about teaching is that you rarely have control over your own teaching schedule. If you've been a science teacher more than two years you have likely been thrown into a new curriculum.

My own experience was to graduate in Biology with a teaching degree, only to accept a job in integrated science (a mix of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science). Not only did I not understand some of the Earth Science topics that I was about to teach, but I had ZERO idea about what materials would help me. It is not uncommon for biology teachers to pick up a chemistry class period, or for a physics teacher to be asked to take on an astronomy elective.

Let me share with you my 20 MUST-HAVE lab materials for a successful Earth Science year. This is not an all-inclusive list, and it is not a list of free materials. These are the materials that helped illustrate the most difficult topics of the curriculum. At the time of this blog publication all of these materials will cost about $600. But you'll be surprised which of these materials you already have in your storage room!

Stay tuned for specific information about how I used these materials for my Earth Science lessons. This list will cover labs about:

• The Universe: Spectral Tubes and Power Supply
• Nebular Theory: Planetary Formation
• Plate Tectonics: Magnetic Reversals and the Ocean Floor
• Plate Tectonics: Mantle Plume Formation
• Plate Tectonics: Topographic Maps
• Ocean Currents: Salinity and Temperature Currents
• Ocean and Fresh Water: Density Differences
• Climate: Angle of Sunlight
• Climate: Greenhouse Effect

Check back for updates and links to these ideas.