What are some of the strange things that you have had on your book shelves for homeschooling?

Question

We had a box of cornstarch on our shelves for a science experiment. And while that isn't so strange it got me to thinking about what others must have had on their shelves for this last year or already.

So tell me! What is the weirdest thing you have had on your shelves??

Answer 1

Its a close contest between the caterpillars in a jar and the fungus we were growing to look at in the microscope.

Answer 2

I don't think I've ever had anything super weird. A tooth from a mule deer. And a baby food bottle with a sand mixture in it (science experiment). While it wasn't in our bookshelves, one of the weirdest items we kept for a while was the top of an old scanner--the kids would put it on each other's faces and do lines for plastic surgery planning. lol.

Answer 3

ok, not me, but my friend conducts biology labs for our homeschool group, so at any given time she has assorted pickled animals and such lurking about on her bookshelves.

It is simply not safe to nose around her bookshelves!

Me? I'm the  less gross of the two of us and the most you will find on my shelves (besides oodles of books) is instructions on how to blow up a diet coke with mentos or how to balance a bunch of books on egg shells or how to poke a skewer through a balloon.

But no pickled animals.

bleh.

Answer 4

gum and bugers icky

Answer 5

I am a pack rat and have problems refusing free stuff and throwing things away.

We started homeschooling in the 8th grade, and that year the local library had their after book sale giveaway and I picked up a 2nd grade language arts book. It was in good condition, looked new and I thought I would find somebody that could use it.  I can't seem to bring myself to give it away. I have no use for it but can't seem to put it in Goodwill box.  I keep thinking that maybe I will homeschool my grand kids. My son is 15, so hopefully that will be around  15 more years before he would have a second grade age child.  Wonder if the book will remain on the shelf that long?

Answer 6

Too funny.... after reading all that I actually had to go and check the shelves.

20 Mule Team Borax, table salt, cornstarch,spiders, snails,varity of seeds for planting/dissecting, sea shells, starfish, sand dollar, oversized Sunflower pod (current dissection project), vinegar,playdough (home made & store bought),vials of human/dog/cat/rabbit/snake hair & skin, mouse pinkie, egg shell, chicken feathers.

Also on the shelves are books on subjects ranging from juvenile books for reading to dinosaurs,archeology,palentology,biology... (ancient - current), maps, cookbooks,workbooks,flashcards, non-working bluetooths,non-working laptop.

As my daughter is constantly asking questions about everything I try to have stuff on hand for her to explore with and I am constantly adding...she is only in the 3rd grade, but is known to ask college age questions. My daughter and I are very well known (first name basis) with 3 local thrift stores, 4 Dollar Trees, 2 Flea markets, the local walmart and publix.

I don't think my stuff qualifies as weird, just well stocked.

Answer 7

rock salt

sugar crystals growing in a jar

salt dough map (with paint and textures) of Africa

a homemade quadrant

Spanish caravel (fully painted and flagged) made of a refrigerator box in the dining room

clock that's powered by cola...

I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any right now :-)

Answer 8

We have a tiny shark in a jar on our shelves, as a mom it is quite gross, as a teacher its pretty cool.