20 Best Gifts for Science Teachers in 2024

10 min read

Last updated: September 23rd, 2024

It can be stressful trying to find the right gift for a science teacher. They tend to want things that are practical yet unique and a little nerdy. As a scientist and former teachers’ assistant, I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gift ideas for a science teacher. This collection will show them that you understand their love of science and support them in their passions.

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference

Your favorite science teacher will never forget this unique gift! They will carry this credit card-sized science ruler with them every day for a lifetime. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!

You can also add a custom logo to this for events, networking, or promotional giveaways! Custom orders start at 100 pieces - just email us for more info.

Available with free shipping from our website or from Amazon.

The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear
The Pocket Scientist from Amazon
How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide

P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!

2. National Geographic Science Magic Kit

With so much focus on curriculum and improving test scores, teachers don’t get a lot of time to have fun. Games like this National Geographic scientific magic kit, on the other hand, are both entertaining and educational. It's not Harry Potter wizardry; it's science!

Check the price on Amazon

3. Science Basic Word Magnets

Science-themed gifts are rarely as entertaining and enduring as our science-themed word magnet sets! We recently launched these to encourage creativity and self-expression in labs, classrooms and offices. Each specialty pack comes with 144 tiles carefully designed by a PhD in that field for technical accuracy and tacit absurdity.

So far, we have sets for Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Academia, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Ecology, PhD Balance (mental health in grad school) and Basic Science. Most people grab a 2, 3, or 4-pack that represents their unique experience in STEM.

Also now available on Amazon.

4. Test Tube Plant Terrarium

It's nice to leave an apple for your teacher, but it'd be even better to give them something that will last past lunch. This test tube terrarium is a great project for them to put on their desk to bring some zen into the classroom. The terrarium is made of vintage charred brown wood and high-quality glass and may be hung on the wall or placed on a table. This is a fantastic gift for the plant-obsessed science teacher in your life.

Check the price on Amazon

5. New 100% Cotton Lab Coats designed for Scientists

Most science teachers I know wear lab coats several times a week for demos and experiments. And most of them hate their lab coats. That's why we spent 3 years designing and modifying a lab coat that scientists love! Released in 2024, the Louis and Curie lab coats are consistently reviewed as "the best lab coat I've ever had".

Science teachers tend to love the tapered knit cuffs which are especially important for protecting wrists from chemicals and keeping clunky oversized cuffs from knocking over expensive glassware. We also made sure to use 100% cotton, which is both breathable and preferred in environments around heat or flames (like Bunsen burners). The two versions are tailored to fit male and female builds differently, with a wide size range and adjustable belt so scientists can finally feel great in their lab coat at work.

This is one to clue them in about beforehand so you can get the sizing right! Or, you can grab a refundable $75 gift card to let them grab their own lab coat plus a pocket protector.

Louis and Curie lab coats

It's now also available on Amazon!

6. The best laser pointer and PowerPoint presenter on the planet

I’ve gone through a lot of shoddy laser pointers and slide advancers in my life. They are either glitchy, not user-friendly or just not powerful enough to see well in a large presentation room. Eventually I got fed up and spent several hours reading reviews and parsing through specs of every laser pointer on Amazon. I landed on this green laser pointer with USB connectivity, plus volume controls and slide controls. It’s the highest-end version from and it’s worth every penny, yet still much cheaper than some other options like Logitech (and more highly rated). I’ve used it for over a year now and am extremely happy with it. Here are the perks:

The green laser is the most powerful that can be legally sold in the USA (6-10x more powerful than the red version).
The USB connectivity works with many different computers and software
The volume controls help prevent embarrassing seconds of blasting video sound or scrambling to the PC to get the volume just right in those tricky embedded videos. It also has a play button for built-in videos.
The slide controls go forward and back plus include a button to blank the screen like a TED talk professional to bring the focus back to the speaker.
The USB rechargeable battery ensures you’ll never get caught out of juice.
The little notebook clip is a nice touch for securing it on your portfolio or your pocket.

The lucky wielder of such a tool can be sure command the presentation room and reduces the risk of awkward technical difficulties. Get the best one and it will last you for many years.

Check the price on Amazon

7. Punished By Rewards by Alfie Kohn

This book challenged everything I thought I knew about teaching and cooperation. Aflie Kohn's blockbuster book "Punsihed by Rewards" shows why rewards are really punishments, and why they should not be used in the classroom, coaching or even parenting.

The big takeaway for science educators from this book will be to change how they coerce a classroom into behaving and learning. After internalizing the new way of operating, students in the classroom are more likely to learn for the sake of the joy of learning - not because of grades, treats, or praise.

Punished By Rewards by Alfie Kohn

Check the price on Amazon

8. Portable teaching tools organizer

It's always a pain to bounce between classrooms several times a day, packing up in between. This portable teaching tools organizer is just the right size to hold everything they need: their presentation laser pointer, dry erase markers, chalk, erasers, grading pens, calculator, and maybe even a snack. We love finding ways to make life easier and this is one of those little things that can help every day.

Check the price on Amazon

9. Full year planner for academics

If you know a science teacher who tends to be a bit "scattered", this lesson planner might be exactly what they need. This full-year planner isn't dated, so it can be started and stopped at any time.

For me, doing a weekly plan has transformed how efficient I am and I want everyone to feel this too! So if your professor could use some help keeping things straight, nudge them in that direction with a helpful planner!

Full year planner for academics

Check the price on Amazon

10. Fun light & optics activities kit

Light technologies are going to be the backbone of our future civilization, so I think it's super important to understand the basics of how light works at an early age. It's not magic, after all, and luckily this kit made by Laser Classroom makes it simple and easy to learn and explore for kids around the ages of 11-14.

This heart of the kit are 3 LED sources in red, green, and blue. They can project squares of color to play with color-mixing theory, or they can project narrow rays of color to study reflection, refraction, and diffraction using the included lenses and mirrors. The 9 included lessons and worksheets should guide you through many hours of "wow" and "ohhhhh..." moments!

Tech Light Lab

11. Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking

This book finally made cooking enjoyable for me. It's always been one of those imprecise arts where you just follow the directions and hope to get it about right. As a scientist, understanding what I'm doing is paramount.

This cookbook walks you through the chemistry behind your every-day cooking recipes so you can make adjustments and improvements by logic, not guesswork! Any science teacher who loves to cook or bake would learn the science behind it, and most importantly be able to bring those new insights to engage their students in the classroom!.

Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking

Check the price on Amazon

12. The New Science Teacher's Handbook: What You Didn't Learn From Student Teaching

Teachers, like students, are continually striving to improve and learn more. The New Science Teacher's Handbook: What You Didn't Learn From Student Teaching contains information on how to be an effective and engaging science teacher. It's the ideal gift for a new science teacher since it provides 12 practical stages to help them become a successful classroom instructor. It also contains stories about real-life events that occurred in one of the authors' classes.

Check the price on Amazon

13. Science Enamel Pin Set

This science enamel pin set is a unique gift for your favorite science teacher to showcase their passion for what they do. It comes with 9 different designs, ranging from a beaker to atomic and molecular formations, so they can mix and match on their outfit! Made from high-quality metal with soft enamel color, this pin lends a whimsical touch to lab coats, professional attire at conferences, and even everyday wear.

Check the price on Amazon

14. Outer Space Canvas with Wood Hanger

Art meets science in this solar system print on a canvas scroll wood hanger, perfect for the astronomy-loving science teacher in your life. It portrays the beauty of our solar system and is a great fit in their classroom. It's printed on sturdy, water-resistant canvas, and it's meant to motivate students to learn more about our solar system. Two wooden strips frame the scroll, and a handy rope is attached to the top. Simply unroll the canvas and hang it!

Check the price on Amazon

15. Ask a Science Teacher: 250 Answers to Questions You've Always Had About How Everyday Stuff Really Works

Larry Scheckel used the knowledge he gained from his 30+ years of teaching science, came up with 250 burning questions about science, and condensed his answers into Ask a Science Teacher: 250 Answers to Questions You've Always Had About How Everyday Stuff Really Works. This will arm the science teacher with answers and fun facts to dazzle their students. The topics span from everyday/common to more in-depth science questions, and the content is advanced enough to work in both high school and college lectures!

Check the price on Amazon

16. Subatomic: An Atom Building Game

Teachers often spend the evenings preparing study courses and grading students' papers. Anyone's day can be brightened by playing a board game with friends and family. The board game Subatomic: An Atom Building Game is ideal for a science teacher. It's a highly strategic and scientifically accurate deck-building card game about particle physics and chemistry! Because it's all about science, this is a terrific present for your science teacher to play at work with students or at home with their families.

Check the price on Amazon

17. Lab Coat Pocket Protector

The venerable Pocket Protector became a geeky cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way people forgot about them. Scientists and science teachers need these to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.

science chemistry and biology teacher gift for experiments

Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.

Check the price on Amazon

18. Things my Students Said: A Teacher’s journal of memorable sayings from Students

This journal is a thoughtful and practical present for a science teacher. Your favorite science teacher can use Things My Students Said to record the charming, adorable, funny, quirky, and witty things their students say. Name, age, and date labels or prompts are included in this 5x8" journal so they can remember who said what and when. This gift will be much appreciated by them and will be treasured for many years. For your favorite science teacher, this makes a unique Christmas or end-of-year gift.

Check the price on Amazon

19. Science Cookie Cutters Chemistry Set

This science cookie cutters chemistry set is a whimsical gift for a science teacher in your life who also loves to bake. It's made of food-grade stainless steel, so it'll last a long time! The set includes 4 science-themed chemistry designs: atom, beaker, test tube, and flask! Now they can bake delicious science cookies and share them with their fellow teachers and students. It’s also perfect for school events and graduation parties!

Check the price on Amazon

20. A thoughtful STEM gift bundle for science teachers

If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together several STEM-themed gift bundles just to make it easy for you. The gift bundles include a STEM Pocket tool and STEM Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!