10x10 Rubik's Cube
$95.99
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Science Teacher Gifts, by Subject
For a middle school, high school or college teacher: objects picked to match the subject they teach.
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Science teacher gifts are presents for a middle school, high school or college teacher, usually at the end of the school year, from one student, a group or a whole class. For a science teacher, they often take the form of an object tied to their subject, such as a Stirling engine for physics, a periodic table for chemistry or a Galton board for math, to keep on the desk or show in class.
Pick by the subject they teach
Physics
A physics teacher looks at a science object with a professional eye. The V8 Engine Model Kit ($119.99) reproduces the pistons, crankshaft and camshaft of a V8, driven by an electric motor: it is a model, not a combustion engine. The Orbital Solar System Desk Toy ($53.99) runs with no motor and no battery, on a single push, and friction eventually slows its spheres. As for the Electric Gyroscope with Motor (from $189.99), its 12,000 rpm spin makes the conservation of angular momentum almost tangible. All three make good gifts for physics teachers.
Chemistry
Chemistry teacher gifts work best when there is something to watch up close. The Periodic Table Of Elements With Real Elements ($99.99) holds 83 real elements in clear resin; gaseous and radioactive elements are left out for safety. The Glacier Storm Glass Prism on Wooden Base ($119.99) shows crystals that change from day to day: they form or dissolve with the room temperature, with no claim to forecast the weather. The Syphon Coffee Maker ($143.99) brews coffee in borosilicate glass over an alcohol burner, much like a bench experiment.
Biology
Biology teacher gifts put life and the Earth on display. The Brain 3D Illusion Lamp ($44.99), an engraved acrylic block, makes a brain stand out in relief as soon as its LED comes on. The Capsule Origin vase ($29.99) keeps an avocado pit dry while its roots grow down into the water, in full view through the glass. For earth science, the Wooden World Globe ($34.99) fits together like a puzzle, a nod to the shifting plates of the Earth's crust.
Math
Math teacher gifts have their cult objects too. The Klein Bottle (from $44.99), first described by Felix Klein in 1882, has no clear boundary between inside and outside. Twist the Helicone Sculpture ($24.99), made entirely of wood, and it turns in a mesmerizing rotating pattern. For a teacher who likes long challenges, the 10x10 Rubik's Cube ($95.99) has 100 squares on each face.
Astronomy
For a teacher who loves astronomy, the Astronaut Plasma Lamp ($64.99) puts a 4-inch plasma globe in the hands of an astronaut, and it lights up at the touch of a finger. The Astronaut Moon Lamp ($64.99), about 11 inches tall, doubles as an air humidifier on a desk. The Wooden Perpetual Calendar ($79.99), in walnut wood, shows the month, the day and the day of the week, with magnets that evoke the planets circling the Sun.
How much to spend on a gift for a teacher?
| Budget | Examples | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30 | Kinetic Desk Toy The Balancer ($23.99), Fractal Fidget Hexagon ($26.99) | A student saying thanks on their own, at the end of the year |
| $30 to $60 | Klein Bottle (from $44.99), Mendel Hydroponic Station ($39.99) | A few students chipping in |
| $60 to $100 | Periodic Table Of Elements With Real Elements ($99.99), Sand Pendulum ($67.99) | A whole class, for the end of the year |
| $100 and up | Swinging Sticks ($175.99), Levitating Moon Lamp ($169.99) | A group of colleagues, for a transfer or a farewell |
An honest gift for a scientific mind
A science teacher reads product descriptions with a critical eye: an honest object will please them more than a gadget that promises too much. A storm glass reacts mostly to temperature, and a so-called perpetual pendulum always stops in the end. They will enjoy explaining why to their students, and that is the whole point. Check their exact subject too: in middle school, science often covers several fields at once, which widens the choice. For an elementary school teacher, our ideas for elementary school are a better fit; if the teacher is retiring, see our retirement gifts; if they are moving to another school, try our desk toys for the office; and for someone curious about every field, our ideas for science lovers.
Frequently asked questions
What are good science teacher gifts for the end of the year?
In middle and high school, an object tied to their subject means more than a one-size-fits-all present. One student alone can give the Acoustic Levitation Kit ($24.99): this small kit holds tiny objects in midair with ultrasound, and building it takes a little soldering. For a group gift, the Galton Board ($119.99) or the Periodic Table Of Elements With Real Elements ($99.99) will find a place on their desk. For elementary school, our teacher appreciation ideas take over.
What are good math teacher gifts?
Go for an object where math can be seen rather than written. The Fractal Fidget Hexagon ($26.99), 3D printed, reveals new fractal patterns each time it is twisted, compressed or stretched. The Metal Oloid ($59.99) is a solid metal shape built from two circles, and it rolls endlessly across the desk. For a group gift, the Galton Board ($119.99) turns falling steel balls into a bell curve: the normal distribution in action.
What are good gifts for physics teachers?
An object that illustrates a principle seen in class speaks to them at once. The Gyroscope Toy ($27.99), started with a string, spins on a fingertip thanks to the conservation of angular momentum. The Tesla Coil Music ($84.99) throws 4-inch arcs of lightning in time with music sent over Bluetooth. For a teacher who likes to build demos, the DIY Stirling Engine Kit ($74.99) comes as a kit: once assembled, it runs on the heat of its own wick.
What are good biology or chemistry teacher gifts?
For a biology teacher, the Mendel Hydroponic Station ($39.99) lines up 3 or 5 glass test tubes on a wooden rack to root cuttings in water, and the Hydroponic Propagation Station - The Plant Observatory ($19.99) does the same with a vintage lab look. For a chemistry teacher, the Diamond Storm Glass Barometer ($29.99) holds crystals that form, dissolve and settle as the temperature changes, behind glass cut like a diamond. Both kinds of gift stay on the desk and keep changing.
What can a whole class give a science teacher?
Pooling money buys a standout piece for their desk. The Nixie Tube Clock Kit DIY ($314.99) is built piece by piece, with diodes, transistors and four IN12 tubes, for a teacher who loves electronics. The Chaotic Double Pendulum ($109.99) arrives assembled and shows chaos at work: two linked arms set off on a path no one can predict. One object like this makes more of an impression than a series of small gifts.
Can I exchange the gift if it doesn't suit them?
Yes. You have 30 days to change your mind, which leaves time to give the gift and see whether it earns its place on the desk. If it doesn't suit, you can send it back within that period. There is also free shipping on orders over $59.90, useful when one parent or student orders for the whole class.