Workshop Plans: Ideas...Kiddie Chemistry

I'm assembling my plans for a workshop this coming August for a small, Catholic school in WV.  Part of my plans include several resources for inquiry-based activities.  Let me share a few with you.  First up is ACS Inquiry in Action.  ACS is the American Chemical Society.  They produced these activities which have complete instructions with solid explanations--perfect if Chemistry isn't your thing.  Bayer also has excellent Alka-Seltzer lab experiments.  I especially like the rockets.  Experiment with the amount of one tablet or the water temperature. Try substituting baking soda and vinegar or baking soda and citric acid.  Be sure to add water to activate the dry chemicals.  Vary the ratios.  Just remember to change one factor at a time and write down your trials!  It can be difficult to locate film canisters.  Educational Innovations sells them for a fair price.  One more idea: slime!  Be sure to make it inquiry-based!  The basic recipe is glue and borax solution, typically colored with food dye.  I use tempera paint instead of food dye because it's cheaper.  Walmart usually sells Borax.  How do you make it inquiry-based?  Which ratio of glue to borax solution works best?  Change the glue from white glue to clear glue.  Switch brands.  Every change is another chance to test.  How do you make the slime more like a bouncy ball?  Write down the changes you make with a description of the results!  One more source for inquiry labs.  This last resource is directed toward girls.  It has a host of STEM ideas; so, it includes both math and science activities, including team tasks.