What STEM Teachers Really Want: A $500 Wish List Roundup

A few weeks ago, I asked my community one simple question: if someone handed you $500 to spend on your classroom tomorrow, what would you buy? I expected a handful of replies. What I got was a genuinely fun peek into what STEM teachers are dreaming about right now and it turns out our wish lists have a lot in common.

Here’s what rose to the top, organized by category, along with a pick for each one in case your own wish list needs a starting point.  The dream pick is when you have a budget that exceeds $500.  The budget pick is under $500!

Heads up: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link things I’d genuinely recommend to a fellow teacher.

3D Printing, Leveled Up

“If I had a bonus $500, I’d get a new 3D printer that prints multiple colors of filament.”

This was one of the most popular answers, and it makes sense.  Once you’ve printed your first single-color gear or prototype, multi-color is the natural next want. It takes student projects to the next level!

A sampler of colors so students aren’t stuck printing everything in the same shade all year.  My favorites to buy are Bambu since the machine automatically reads the colors and they are cheaper if you buy many.  However, on Amazon there are also great deals!  I usually pick up Elegoo or Sunlu.

https://link.amazon/B0hAYddEi

Laser Cutters & Craft Supplies

“I’d investigate a small laser printer.”

This response basically wrote the whole “dream big, plan for reality” playbook. A laser cutter opens up an entirely new project category — signage, engraving, custom parts — while vinyl and sticker paper keep an existing Cricut station stocked and student-ready.

Robotics That Get Kids Moving

“I would spend it on robotics” ·

Robotics showed up more than almost anything else, and Sphero and LEGO were the two names that kept coming back. Both make it easy to teach programming logic without requiring a full computer science curriculum to back it up.

The Dream Pick

Sphero Mini Classroom 16-Pack

Enough app-enabled coding robots for small groups across a whole class period, built for exactly this kind of shared classroom use.

The Budget Pick

The LEGO Pick

LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Set

LEGO’s flagship STEM robotics platform — buildable, programmable, and durable enough to survive years of class periods.

https://link.amazon/B0hfMUKOa

They are beginning to phase out SPIKE Prime so you may want to move onto their newer programming tool LEGO AI.

https://education.lego.com/en-us/products/lego-education-computer-science-and-ai/45521/

Coding Kits & Drones

“I would buy Coding Learning kits by PLAYZ!” “…or a few more CoDrones.”

These two go hand in hand — a low-lift coding kit for building the fundamentals, and drones for students who are ready to see their code actually take flight.

The Dream Pick

Playz My First Coding & Computer Science Kit

Teaches binary, encryption, and algorithms through hands-on puzzles — no computer required to get started.

https://link.amazon/B03FnkiVC

The Dream Pick

CoDrone EDU Programmable Drone

A block- and Python-programmable drone built specifically for classroom coding units.

Hydroponics & the School Garden

“I would spend it on the school garden.”

Not every STEM wish list is about screens and circuit boards.  Many of you want to bring plant science to life, whether that’s a full outdoor garden bed or a compact hydroponics setup that fits right on a classroom counter.

The Dream Pick

Educational Hydroponic Garden System

A classroom-sized hydroponic setup that’s perfect for Earth Science or life science units and no outdoor garden required.

https://link.amazon/B01GagG6f

Huge thanks to everyone who replied to the original giveaway email.  I love receiving and reading responses to my emails! If you have anything that you would put on your list, leave it in the comments below!

Happy teaching,
Allyn