Transportation

Elementary Science Specialist (ESS) need to carry a lot of materials to promote hands-on, collaborative, and inquiry-oriented learning.


Whether you are using your own personal kits developed over the years or the school supplied Science kits, you will need some manner of transportation from room to room. In addition to the the lesson materials, you are also required to carry everything else you would need that is not found in the kits. These can include lesson graphic organizers, textbooks, lined paper, file folders, rulers, crayons, markers, scissors, glue-sticks, white glue, tape, class notebooks, candy rewards, lined paper, graph-paper, pencil sharpeners, erasers, sharpies, etc. If you have no time between classes to exchange materials for different lessons, you may need to carry three lessons worth of materials at the same time.

AV Cart
Found in most schools to originally hold overhead projectors.

Pros- Better than nothing with no cost to you. You can make a larger table insert to place on top of cart. Larger ones may be found in a school. Cons-Limited storage space and wheels are not designed for constant travel. Can only carry light loads.

Service Cart-Grocery Cart
I used a service cart for a number of years before I built my own cart. An art teacher I know has very effectively used a grocery cart for years.

Pros-Large storage space. Wheels made for constant motion and abuse. Items can be mounted on for further storage. Larger tabletop can be placed on service cart types. Can carry a lot of weight. Very easy to maneuver. Cons-Cost out of pocket though my cart was provided by the principal at my old school. Grocery carts and Service carts range used from $75 to $150 (not counting shipping).


 * Veteran ESS Solution**

Mobile Science Table
This was the last step to my transportation needs other than building my own classroom. I reached a point where I required a table to use in my instruction. I also needed further storage options that would not require me to run up and down stairs anymore. It is based around inexpensive 15 liter plastic containers that are used as drawers. Simple carpentry was employed. All wheels are swivel for easy orientation and movement in classrooms. Bottom of cart made from 2x6 stock to provide extra weight to make tipping impossible. The table has hooks on the back to carry a projection screen from room to room.

Pros-Multiple storage organization options allows me to carry everything I could possible need to be completely self sufficient. Portable table top to use for Science. Can carry a document camera and LCD projector. Cons-Cost in design and labor. Difficult to move in classrooms where teachers partially obstructs the entrance with classroom furniture.