Standards-keyed lab activities you can actually pull off with what you have or what you can grab at Walmart.
Because every great lab is one Ziploc bag away.
Search by standard, grade level, or the supplies you already have. Every activity shows you exactly what you need and where to get it.
Enter an NGSS code or keyword. Get a list of activities that actually fit your curriculum.
Every lab includes a quick supply check so you can see what you have and what you need in seconds.
Every lab includes a shopping list with exactly where to find each item at Walmart, Dollar Tree, or wherever is near you.
Clear instructions written for real classrooms and kitchen tables.
Every activity gives you the standard, the supplies, a pro tip, and a DIY path all on one card.
Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after interactions to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
Students combine unknown substances and use evidence (gas production, temperature change, color change) to determine if a chemical reaction occurred. Works in baggies OR an ice cube tray for wells.
No microwell plate? An ice cube tray works perfectly as wells and it is reusable. Grab one at Dollar Tree for $1.25.
Not the Pinterest version. The real one where the budget got cut and you found out about the lab observation at 7 AM.
Search by NGSS code, topic, or grade band. Every result is curriculum-mapped so you're never just doing a "fun experiment."
Every lab shows you exactly what it costs to DIY from Walmart and Dollar Tree — aisle by aisle, item by item.
No fancy lab required. Every activity is designed to work at a kitchen table with materials from your local Walmart or Dollar Tree.
Not a curriculum company. Not a textbook publisher. Every activity has been tested in an actual classroom with actual kids.
In A Pinch was born out of a real problem: science teachers are expected to run hands-on labs with shrinking budgets, no prep time, and limited access to materials. I've been that teacher.
With 7 years in the classroom and a background as a medical laboratory scientist, I won a national grand prize from the Shell Science Lab Challenge and built the tool I always needed.
Got a lab that works every time? Share it here. No TPT links, no fees, no gatekeeping. Just good science that actually runs.