Apologia Chemistry: Build basic equipment

I'm constantly reminded that many students do not have basic lab equipment or have large families with tight budgets. The Science Notebook has tips for creating and calibrating liquid measuring devices.  Try to locate a graduated cylinder--even on loan to calibrate your glassware or bottles.  Here are instructions to construct a scale.  A penny made before 1982 has a mass of three grams.  Pennies minted after 1982 have a mass of 2.5 grams.  (1982 pennies vary as the mints changed over.).  Nickels have a mass of five grams.  Coins can serve as weights for your scale.  We use craft sticks to mix and inexpensive plastic palettes as reaction plates.  Walmart sells inexpensive thermometers you can use for many experiments and can calibrate.