This is a post about gifts for science teachers from a teacher (who is also a parent) to parents.

(Looking for science gifts for kids? I have a post about that HERE.)

I want to make one thing very clear. TEACHERS DO NOT NEED GIFTS. We absolutely DO NOT notice or care if your child does not give us a gift. NEVER ever have I thought more of a kid who gave me a gift or less of a kid who did not. EVER.

The best gifts I have ever gotten as a teacher were handmade objects by kids that cost nothing. For instance, a student drew me a peacock on a piece of scrap wood because it is my favorite animal. That drawing is now a treasured object in my classroom. And if you saw the drawing, I mean, it’s not Picasso. But I truly, truly love it because it came from the kid’s heart. It means a lot!

So parents, PLEASE don’t think you have to get teachers gifts. If you really want to, then keep it simple, cheap, and easy on yourself! And even a very simple homemade gift is appreciated.

This all being said, in the past few years, parents have begun to ask what I would like for Christmas. I’ve been teaching for a long time, and this is a new and strange trend to me!

So, I’ve compiled a list of things I would love to receive as a science teacher.

Gifts for Science Teachers

Science Ornaments: I love getting science-themed ornaments from students! Every year, I remember the kids from years past who gave them to me when I put them on my tree. I love this little Erlenmeyer flask, and this microscope is downright adorable. This Earth is cute for anyone who cares about the planet.

This Day In Science Calendar: I would love to have this in my classroom! I would read one off at the beginning of every class to start a fun discussion with the kids.

Science Lanyard: Teachers have so many keys (teacher’s room, bathroom, classroom, closets…) so lanyards have become kind of a “thing” with teachers. There are tons of different kinds to choose from. Biology teacher? This DNA lanyard is fun! Chemistry teacher? The periodic table, of course! And I do believe that 99.99% of science teachers are NASA nerds! This NASA lanyard would be cute for any science teacher.

Keychains: As I mentioned, teachers always have a lot of “work” keys. Fun keychains are just that, FUN! I like the “Think like a proton, stay positive” one, and I’d also love to receive the chemical structure of caffeine, too. If you search Amazon for “science keychain,” tons more options pop up.

Gifts for the Science Classroom

DNA Pencil Holder: “My students never ask for pencils” – said no teacher ever. This is a cute place to store pencils so that instead of the teacher having to rifle through their desk, there’s a one-stop spot for loaner pencils.

Galileo Thermometer: This is a beautiful and decorative addition to a classroom and an educational piece!

Amber or Fossils: These are not terribly expensive, but I can promise they will be much more appreciated than another Santa mug. Any science teacher will find them cool and unique, and the added bonus is that they can be used in a science lesson.

Framed Butterflies: I personally would say framed bugs are a cute science gift, but not everyone likes bugs – even science teachers. However, I’m sure any science teacher would love to add a beautiful framed butterfly to their classroom decor. There are tons to choose from on Amazon. This was the best set I could find – it comes with 2 for under $30.

Storm Glass: I actually have this exact one in my classroom right now! My old wall-mounted one broke, and it was such a conversation piece in the classroom that I had to replace it. It’s pretty, but it also gets kids to witness the changes in atmospheric pressure and how they relate to weather. Countless kids who have come through my classroom understand pressure and weather because of this little “decoration.” If I had to pick just one item for a gift on this whole list, this is it.

For an “Out of This World” Teacher

Meteorite: How cool is this?! To be able to hold and touch an actual meteorite is pretty awesome. If you search Amazon for “meteorite,” there are all different sizes and price points, so you’re sure to find one to fit your budget. To any of my students reading this (that’s a joke, there’s none!)… hint hint!

Telescope: I’m sure this telescope is more pretty than it is functional, but it’s cool token-type gift for a science teacher. I’d love to have this piece on my desk! I have a project where students make their own telescope (many teachers do this project), so I’d love to use this as a model.

Living Gifts

Grow-Your-Own-Mushrooms: Now, to the average normal person, this may not seem that cool. But to a science teacher? I promise, it’s very cool! And we’d get to share the growth with students as a lesson, a win-win!

Easy-To-Care-For Plants: I think any teacher with a window would appreciate a plant to cheer up their classroom, but science teachers might appreciate a living, growing gift even a little bit more. However, teachers are really busy, so getting a plant that’s easy to care for is the way to go. My husband has a snake plant (like the one pictured) in his classroom, and I think he waters it a few times a year. It still looks great!

Grow-Your-Own Mushrooms

The Most Useful Gift

Teacher Pay Teachers Gift Card: Teachers love to buy new and fresh things to do in their classroom, and the website TPT is where they do it. So, this is how it works: when teachers make a new lesson, they can post it on this site. Then, other teachers can buy it for the price of a coffee. I buy lessons on TPT all the time. And I always do it with my own money. So, every teacher I know would appreciate a gift card to this site. Individual lessons are sold for anywhere from $2 to $8, so your gift card could get a teacher quite a bit. They’re probably buying things there already and would LOVE to have a little help. And, your child gets a fun, extra lesson out of it!

Please remember…

Teachers appreciate gifts. We truly do. But we’re people, too. We understand the busyness and the financial strain of this season. And to be honest, most kids do not give teachers gifts. Your child will be in the majority if you skip worrying about teacher gifts this year. Your child’s teacher will most certainly not even notice if you just can’t do it this year. I promise, promise, promise.

So please, please don’t worry about teacher gifts. I made this list for people looking for ideas. However, if you need validation for not giving teacher gifts – I hereby give that to you, too!

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