Science on a Snow Day

We got 2 and1/2 inches of snow today. Yes, I measured. My kids were very disgruntled last week when Camp Lejeune got lots, and we got none, especially since it didn't snow at all in the five years that we lived there, and now that we are further North, by rights we should have had snow before they did. Yet another lesson in the unfairness of life. When I got up to make Tim's lunch this morning at 4, he looked at me and said, "Your shirt's on backwards". He was not home yet last night when we all did the snowdance (minus the flushing of icecubes down the toilet, since we didn't have any, since I am the only one who EVER fills the icetrays, and I did not know we were out, because I hardly EVER use icecubes!) I asked him if it had snowed, and he turned the lights on in the backyard, and said it had not. So, imagine my surprise at being awakened just before 6am by a recorded phone message from Jack's school saying that school was canceled for the weather! Jack was at my door, in uniform, ready to wake me up when the call came. We watched the news and saw that Stafford schools were also closed, so I went back to bed! The kids were so excited to wake up and see the white stuff. I was excited that a snow day meant Timmy had two extra days to study for his civics and science exams that were supposed to be today (they have tomorrow off for a teacher workday). He also has a science fair project due on Thursday, and I welcomed the opportunity to help him finish that up, as well. He had other ideas, of course. Snow days are meant for snow activities! Especially snow days that you've waited for for 6 years!

I let him play till lunch time, and then sent him to the computer to type up and print his data for his science fair project on "Electrified Earthworm". You would have thought I had sent him to the electric chair. He chose this project from a book we have, Science Fair Project Ideas. He said he thought it sounded "interesting". I wished I had read more about it way back then, because I would have encouraged him to consider a project more worthy of his interests and abilities. This project involves attaching insulated wires to a D cell battery, and prodding an earthworm with the wires to see how his body reacts. Supposedly, the current gives the worm information about the conditions of his (hers, their?) environment. The project description claims that the current passing through will not harm the worm. I wonder how many post-experimental worms they interviewed? Anyhow, as I've said before, getting Timmy to sit and focus on any kind of work he is not enthralled with is like pulling teeth. And, can I just say that the thought of him enjoying this kind of experiment will be brought up at my next meeting with his counselor!

Colleen, Shane and Megan came home with science fair project forms last week. Colleen and Shane's participation is optional, but all three wanted to do projects, too. Colleen is growing crystals from epsom salt and water, and Shane is growing candy crystals from sugar (organic, brown, and white). We were able to get their projects set up this afternoon, and here's hoping something will grow before too long. Growing candy crystals would be right up Timmy's alley! In fact, I may have to hide Shane's experiment from Timmy so he isn't tempted to eat the project......