Equipping a homeschool laboratory does not have to cost a whole lot of money. There are a number of things that you can use from around the house. However, you will have to invest in some things that will give the feel of a proper science lab to your homeschool students. Here we discuss the different types of equipment you will need to keep on hand to conduct your homeschool science experiments.
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Safety First
No matter what the experiment, the homeschool student must always exercise safety by using safety equipment. This would include protecting the eyes with goggles and hands with gloves.You could use an oversized thick t-shirt as a lab coat and make sure that when using chemicals the children wear closed toe shoes.
Stuff to Work With
You will need all kinds of containers and measuring tools to conduct your experiments. Clear plastic cups, empty soda bottles, zip lock bags, and transparent cups made of glass, all can be used as containers for more reactive substances. Peanut butter jars, mayonnaise jars, and coffee cans are also good for storage. Plastic forks, spoons and knives are good to transfer stuff during experiments. Drinking straws and toothpicks can also make useful tools. Eye droppers and children’s medicine syrup dosage cups are good to measure out precise amounts.
Common Chemicals Found at Home
Most experiments require some chemical agent and you don’t have to buy them as a large number of these chemicals can be found at home. Consider stocking extra baking soda, vinegar, corn starch,salt, food coloring, lemon juice, pineapple juice, gelatin,red cabbage, soda, Mentos, Wintergreen Lifesavers, fizzing antacid tablets, laundry bluing, borax detergent, white glue, baby oil, dish soap, rubbing alcohol, flour, yeast, sugar, glow sticks and flour to conduct some super science experiments .
More Stuff to Save
There are other things around the house that you can save and add to the homeschool science lab such as rubber balls, yo-yos, coins, glass marbles, Slinkys, drinking dipping bird toys, bubble soap, latex balloons, helium balloons and a whole lot more. Save electronic tidbits as well. LED bulbs,batteries of all kinds, solar panels, laser pointer, black light bulb, small DC (battery-powered) motors, electrical wires, nails, paper clips, magnets, iron filings and electrical tape can all be a part of your stock.
Article Inspiration: About Homeschooling
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