Is Cost Your Science Roadblock? Part 1
Cost is always an issue. I have never worked anywhere or done anything where cost didn’t come up as a limiting factor. I want to talk about ways to cut costs and still experience a wonderful science experience.
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We are going to break cost issues into 2 categories:
Today we are going to focus on cost cutting science resources. My rule for pulling resources is K.I.S.S.
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Silly.
Don’t plan on creating a life-size rocket to explore earth & space science. That isn’t realistic. What can you do that might be a little less work that that?
People often overlook revisiting projects and experiments and adding depth to the exploration. This is a great way to boost confidence (for you and the kids). I also don’t suggest investing in lots of kits. Usually, they aren’t anything special and you could buy the supplies for 10X more experiments without the branding of the kit. If you aren’t buying kits, you will need to spend lots of time on Pinterest or invest in some quality resources (or both).
Suggestions
I do suggest buying a few good resources that have several projects in them. eBooks are a great cost (and space) saving option. There are lots of options, but I have personal experience with the following items.
STEAM Kids is great for kids 4-9. The STEAM Kids folks have a sale going on to celebrate May the Fourth day (40% off all downloads through May 4), and you can grab a free Star Wars Challenge Cards set.
The Lab Bench is a book designed to use with middle school kids. I wrote this book for anyone that works with kids ages 8-14. There are 24+ projects, with instructor notes, outlines, student sheets, and learning standards. 
Downloadable resources are great because they save money, space, and time. If you are in pinch for a specific topic, don’t overlook resources from Teachers Pay Teachers, Educents, or Teacher’s Notebook. However, the printing costs can add up. If you are buying downloadable resources, I suggest checking out HP Instant Ink to save time and money on ink.
What are your favorite cost cutting science resources to help make science a reality with your kids?
