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When starting this process, it will be beneficial to think of categories of supplies/equipment/materials by course first I would suggest using these 4 general categories Lab equipment Lab supplies Teaching materials (models, Periodic Table, demos, etc) Safety equipment I have ordered for a new construction lab and a renovated lab before. The list could be endless depending upon budget, course, grade level,AP/IB/Dual Credit courses or not, space, how many rooms, how many rooms will teach multiple disciplines.... Using these categories should help frame your thinking. Also, when ordering...you can sometimes save money dependent on the size of the order. It pays to price things by lowest bidder and by bundling to make large orders with a big vendor for comparison. I would also look at general suppliers not just science so places like grainger for deals. -- *Regards,* *

Hi, There are two categories to sort your supplies into that will help you set priorities for spending within your budget. The first category is equipment. You can use equipment for years to come and will not have to purchase as frequently. I would say depending on what you're teaching that microscopes, hot plates, and scales may be the only equipment you need to buy from your list at this point in time. Autoclaves and incubators may be costly and will only be used for specific labs. The other category to sort supplies into is the consumable category. Consumables must be bought again after each lab. This would include things like chemicals, glue, and paper products. Try sharing equipment with others and be sure to plan ahead so you can spend wisely! Lastly, know what your budget is and if it carries over to the next year. Hope this helps!

Thank you for the great resources.