Opportunity to acquire science stuff for a small home lab....suggestions please?!?

[Buddy Lime]

A school near our home is closing and we have a chance to purchase a lot of items from a science lab for really cheap (I mean next to nothing!)  We picked up an old microscope in the spring from another school, so we've got slides, dyes and other items for it on our list, I'd take it all but would like to be fair! :)

I have an unschooled 6 year old, and a curious 9 year old nephew who comes for weekends sometimes.

Does anyone have any suggestions on some basic essentials I can put at the top of my list? Hoping to put together our own little science area and this seems like a great way to start, but I need some help! :)

[stardogs]

What about bunsen burners, beakers, various measuring tools, etc. for when your LO is older? An extra microscope might not be a bad idea either since it's dirt cheap.

[stitching]

I'd look for precision digital scales and triple beam balances.  Good quality ones can be expensive, and they can be used for all sorts of things with young children.

A variety of glassware, such as different sizes of flasks, beakers, and graduated cylinders, test tubes and test tube stands, could be nice to have.  Stands, clamps, and tongs to go along with them, too, and a good hotplate.  I'd only get a burner if you have the means to fuel it.

All sorts of random things, like pipettes, thermometers, magnets and iron filings, electronics sets or components, pith balls and other materials for studying charge (rods of various materials, fabric swatches), low-friction cars and ticker-timers...

I'd put the expensive items, like the scales and balances at the top of my list, and then the hard to find specialty items that could be fun to have about, like the low friction carts and pith balls, then anything else.  Before going, I'd look online for prices of labware and decide how much you want to spend now.

Have fun!