The STEM Night Disaster Read online

  I turned to Birdie and she turned to me. We both mouthed “no way” at the same time.

  “And the best part,” continued Mom. “The winner of the competition will get a thousand dollars to do something special for the school. Second place will get five hundred dollars, and third place will get two hundred and fifty dollars. So our whole school community will benefit from this grant, not just because we get to meet Dr. Caroline and have our very first STEM Night, but because three of you will get to choose a special way to make our school better for years to come!”

  I jumped up and down like I was on a trampoline. The clapping in the auditorium grew louder.

  STEM Night. A science competition AND I was going to meet Dr. Caroline live-and-in-person.

  Sure, I might have lost Jeremy’s dumb bet. But that was okay.

  Because from my point of view, I had already won something much better than any bet.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Bouncing Ideas

  Science demonstration (noun). Introducing or explaining a principle of science through a visual example so others can see it firsthand. Like you might create an eruption in a papier-mâché volcano with vinegar and baking soda to demonstrate an acid-base chemical reaction.

  I FLIPPED THROUGH A CHEMISTRY BOOK, searching for the perfect experiment or demo. “Are you guys having any luck finding a project?”

  “Not yet.” Birdie thumbed through The Big Book of Totally Awesome Science Experiments, which was propped on her lap. Right after the assembly, Birdie and I had grabbed a bunch of science books from the school library to look for the perfect experiments together. Elijah and Memito had been hanging out at Elijah’s house after school but had come over when they saw me and Birdie on my back patio. Elijah’s yard is right next to mine so it’s easy for him to hop over the chain-link fence. Now we were all sprawled on lawn chairs in my backyard.

  “I don’t need luck,” said Memito. “I’ve got my project all figured out. I’m going to test different ways to dry mango and figure out which method tastes the best.” He licked his lips.

  “I’m coming over to your house, so I can be a taste tester,” said Elijah.

  “And celebrate me coming in first.” Memito rubbed his hands together. “I’m going to use the prize money to start a cooking club.”

  Elijah tapped on a tree stump. “Bet you can’t guess what I’m going to do. Oops, sorry—I mean make an inference.” He grinned.

  “Something with drumming obviously,” I said.

  “Give that girl a pair of drumsticks,” said Elijah. “I’m going to use different sticks on my drums and figure out which one creates the best sound quality. And since I’m going to win, I’ll use the money to start a battle of the bands.” Elijah elbowed me. “What’s your experiment, Kate? I bet you already have yours all typed and printed out already.”

  “Actually,” I said, “I haven’t figured it out yet. The problem is, there are just so many things I’m curious about.” I peered up at the sky. “Like why is it blue up there? I’m not sure, but I have ideas. I know it has something to do with chemistry—all the particles and gases in the air.” I pointed to a maple leaf that was bright red. “Why is that red? I know it’s chemistry.”

  “So basically, you come up with an experiment about anything that makes you curious,” said Birdie.

  “Exactly!” I said. “It just has to be awesome for Dr. Caroline. I still have no clue what I would do with a thousand dollars though.”

  I glanced over at Birdie, who had a mysterious smile on her face. “You figured out something,” I said.

  “Yup.” Birdie peered up from one of our science experiment books. “I want to use the prize money to paint a mural on the library wall.”

  “And what about your project?” I asked.

  “Not sure.” She started flipping through her book again. Then she came to a picture that made her gasp. “That’s so pretty.” It was a spread featuring colorful strips of paper towels hanging on a clothesline. “They look tie dyed. It’s called an ink chromatography experiment. You get to separate colors.” Her fingertips slowly brushed the image as if ink might somehow come off the page. “I think I’ve found my experiment!”

  “Still don’t know what you want to do, Kate?” asked Elijah in a teasing voice.

  “No,” I admitted. “Not yet.” I pointed to our trampoline. “Let’s stop talking. And go jumping.”

  Everyone rushed over.

  Birdie grabbed my hand and we jumped together while Elijah and Memito started tossing as many balls as they could find onto the trampoline. It was like jumping in a hot air popcorn popper, only without the hot air. And without the kernels.

  After a big flip, I thought about how electrons move around an atom, sometimes in unpredictable ways just like the balls. Maybe I could make a miniature trampoline to demonstrate how electrons bopped around.

  I peered up at that blue atmosphere. “Maybe I could do a chromatography test of the sky,” I said with a wink.

  “Ha ha,” said Birdie.

  “I don’t know,” I said with a giant jump, “with chemistry anything is possible.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Robotic Ideas

  Hydrogen peroxide (noun). It’s a molecule that looks like a clear, bubbly liquid and has the molecular formula H2O2. It kills lots of germs and that’s why it’s found in some mouthwash. But it’s more famous for whitening teeth than getting rid of stinky smells.

  IN THE FAMILY ROOM, I watched a Dr. Caroline video. Mom had a school board meeting and Dad was working in his office. My little brother Liam was fiddling with his remote-control robot on the floor next to me.

  “Do you think I could get my robot to jump up a ladder and get stuff?” asked Liam. “Like cookies?”

  I glanced up from the iPad on my lap. “Not unless you can program him.”

  “His name is Norbert.”

  “Sorry—Norbert. Plus, he’d have to be engineered with different legs in order to climb.”

  “Aw, man. Why couldn’t they have done that?” With a sigh, Liam waggled the robot’s legs.

  “Sometimes you can’t always figure stuff out.” But that couldn’t be the case with my science project. Today was Sunday and it had been almost a week since the assembly announcing STEM Night. And I still didn’t know what to do. That’s why I was binge watching.

  Dr. Caroline was making something called Elephant’s Toothpaste. I guess because it was big and bubbly enough to clean an elephant’s mouth. It was the first of her videos I had ever seen and it’s still one of my favorites. She takes 35% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium iodide, dish soap, and food coloring to make the most awesome, explosive, mushy reaction ever.

  On-screen, Dr. Caroline stared at the orange fluffy stuff coming out of the Erlenmeyer flask. “Isn’t that cool?” she yelled.

  “Yes!” I yelled back.

  Behind her, a poster read: i’m positive i’ve lost my electron.

  I was positive that I loved Dr. Caroline.

  Suddenly I felt a pinch on my arm. “Ow!” I whipped around to see Norbert’s robot hand on my elbow.

  Liam was beaming. “You said you wanted to pinch yourself. So I got Norbert to do it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I heard you talking with Birdie the other day. You said you wanted to pinch yourself ’cause you’re going to meet Dr. Caroline.”

  I started giggling. Sometimes I forget that Liam is just a kindergartner. After explaining what I meant, we both cracked up. Then he got interested in Norbert knocking down blocks.

  I went back to watching more videos. In one of them, Dr. Caroline made a pink solution turn completely clear by blowing carbon dioxide into it with a giant straw. In another one, Dr. Caroline used limes to power a digital clock. In still another one, she made a Rube Goldberg machine, which is a series of chain
reactions that do a simple thing in a ridiculously complex way. It all started with a phone buzzing that knocked into a row of dominoes, setting off a chain reaction involving pulleys, levers, bells, and ending in a test tube filled with vinegar being dumped into a papier-mâché volcano that exploded.

  Something just had to spark an idea. My project needed to be fun and exciting, but with really interesting science if it was going to win. And I wanted it to feel like mine. Something original that came from me.

  By my feet, a bunch of blocks knocked to the floor with a soft thud. Norbert and Liam were definitely up to their usual tricks.

  Looking down, I noticed tiny screws in Norbert’s battery compartment gleaming under the light. Wait a minute! His toy used a battery that was easy to take out. This gave me an idea. A lime battery, but better! “For my project, I could power your robot with fruit, Liam. Maybe I could figure out how to make him do something cool like write a word. Or do something else awesome.”

  “Yeah, just do something cool and show me how to do it, too.”

  I slapped his hand. “A high five,” I said, “for a five-year-old.”

  He put his chubby arms around me for a hug.

  I hugged him back. This could totally work. It would impress Ms. Daly and Dr. Caroline. It would be the best science project at STEM Night.

  Now I just had to figure out what to do with the prize money. Because I knew I was going to win!

  CHAPTER SIX

  Power Up!

  Biodegradation (noun). A chemical process where matter is broken down by microorganisms like fungi. Fungi is the plural of fungus. This gives a whole new meaning to “there’s a fungus among us.”

  ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, Ms. Daly stood in the front of the science lab. It was after lunch, and everyone in my class was working on their STEM projects. “I’m going to give you”—she glanced at her watch—“a few more minutes to get organized. And then I want everyone to show off your materials and how you plan to use them with group members.”

  Oh, I couldn’t wait to do that! The class had been split into five groups. Ms. Daly put me with Jeremy, Memito, and Phoenix. The idea was that we were supposed to think through our projects together. And help each other, if we needed it.

  At the next table, Birdie was with Elijah, Avery, and Rory. I waved at her. And she waved back. I wished I could be with her.

  “When one of you is demonstrating your project,” said Ms. Daly, holding up a pencil, “the rest of you will write down observations. For example, you could write, ‘I see a clear liquid.’ When everyone is finished, hand in your notes. That means even when it’s not your turn to present, you’ll be actively learning and participating.”

  “Will we be tested on this?” asked Avery in a worried voice. She’s pretty competitive when it comes to grades.

  I guess I am, too.

  “Nope, no quiz,” said Ms. Daly. “But I will give everyone participation points.”

  Lots of kids sighed with relief.

  While we set up our materials, everyone in my group started talking about what they’d do with the money if they won on STEM night. Which wasn’t actually that far away, just eleven days.

  “I’d use the prize money to get new soccer goals for the school,” said Jeremy.

  “Soccer is great,” said Phoenix. “But we already have cones. They work fine. I think we need to buy some big composting bins for the garden.”

  “Actually, we need to get more raised garden beds, to supply veggies for the cooking club,” said Memito. “Which we’ll definitely need to start.”

  “Kate, what are you going to do with your money, if you win?” asked Jeremy.

  “I don’t know.” I flipped through my binder. “I’m still trying to figure it out.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Ms. Gottfried, our librarian, stroll into the lab. A black camera with a maroon strap hung around her neck. “Don’t mind me, everyone,” she said. “I’m taking photos and video for our school website.”

  Soon enough, I was scribbling furious notes while I listened to Phoenix. She held up a 2-liter soda bottle that had been cut in half so the bottom could serve as a stand for the top half turned upside down. Dirt, orange peels, and shredded napkins filled the inside.

  Memito held his nose. “That’s stinky.”

  “It’s kind of awesome,” said Jeremy.

  “I agree!” I wrote: awesome way to recycle a bottle.

  “I want to dump that bottle on my brother’s pillow,” said Jeremy with a sly smile.

  “It’s not something to just throw away,” sniffed Phoenix. “Everything comes from the earth. And most of it can be recycled, reused, or composted. If you throw it into a landfill, it just sits there.”

  As Phoenix stirred the dirt with a spoon, I studied the criteria judges would be using to evaluate our projects. They would be looking at 1) scientific thought, 2) thoroughness, 3) demonstrated skills, and 4) our ability to communicate our project and make STEM connections. There was no doubt that Phoenix would be able to do all of that. I couldn’t get jealous. Scientists need to support each other.

  I pointed at the compost pail. “Hey, that’s cool chemistry!” I motioned over to Ms. Gottfried. “You should get a photo of this.”

  Ms. Gottfried glided closer. Pushing up her aqua-colored glasses on her nose, she grinned. “Good idea.” Then I could hear her camera going click, click, click.

  “Kate’s right,” said Phoenix. “Composting is chemistry. According to my research, biodegradation is a chemical process where stuff is broken down by microorganisms like bacteria. But only some things break down that way.” She pointed to pieces of plastic in the pail. “That’s why I cut up lids from yogurt cartons. I predict they won’t get broken down.”

  Memito winced and wrote down in giant letters: can be stinky.

  “Sure you’re not talking about your socks?” teased Phoenix.

  “My socks and your dirt,” said Memito. During his turn, he held up a bag of dried fruit, and my stomach tightened. His project looked so far along.

  “Did you already finish your project?” asked Jeremy, who had been reading my thoughts.

  “Yup,” said Memito. “I was so excited to get started.”

  While he talked about the science of drying fruit, I tried to contain my worry about being behind. Instead, I focused on the fact that Ms. Gottfried was now filming Birdie. Yay Birdie! She was talking about her chromatography project.

  I wanted to clap when Birdie held up her project, which almost looked like a tie-dye cloth, with splashes of sea blue, plum, and hot pink. She had just as many colors as Avery, who sat next to her with jars of DIY lip gloss.

  “Ahem,” grumbled Memito, poking me in the shoulder.

  “Oh, sorry!” I whirled back around.

  Memito waved a baggie of dried mangos. “Don’t you want some?”

  “Sure!” I grabbed a morsel of fruit leather. “Mmm, this tastes so perfect.”

  “Thanks,” said Memito. “Which means I’m not going to put it anywhere near that bottle of dirt.”

  “Compost,” corrected Phoenix.

  “Okay, everyone, it’s fruit-powered battery time.” I waved my arms. “Hey, Ms. Gottfried. Do you want to see the true power of a lemon?” I pointed to the one on the table. “Get ready!”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A Fruitful Search

  Power (noun). How fast energy is transferred from one spot to another. The faster something gets transferred, the more power. So, think of it as a faster runner in a race having more power than a slowpoke.

  “THIS IS GOING TO BE SO COOL,” I said, fiddling with the arms of Liam’s robot. “I’m using a piece of fruit to power up my little brother’s favorite toy.” I moved the little levers.

  Everyone in my STEM group leaned forward for a better look.

 
“Whoa! That’s amazing,” exclaimed Memito.

  “Thanks.” I hadn’t tried out the battery yet and was eager to get started. I couldn’t believe how far ahead both Phoenix and Memito were. And Birdie and Avery, too, from the looks of it. I didn’t like feeling behind.

  As Avery walked by to sharpen her pencil, she studied the lemon and then the robot. “Is that really going to work?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah!” I promised.

  Ms. Gottfried strode closer to get a close-up on the lemon. Turning, I gave her my best smile.

  “My dad calls his car a lemon,” said Jeremy. “But turning an actual lemon into a battery? That doesn’t seem possible.”

  “Come closer.” I motioned to Ms. Gottfried. “See. I’m going to get this battery started.” I pushed a shiny nail into one side of the lemon. It didn’t puncture the skin until I jammed it in with a good shove. “It’s coated in zinc.” I waved a piece of wire. “My mom helped me cut a piece of this.” I pushed it in easy peasy. “The wire is copper. You can also use an old penny. See, the zinc wants to wave bye-bye to the electrons. And the copper wants to collect them. When the electrons zip along—you get electricity. Which is going to power up this little robot.” I patted the lever-like arms.

  From a nearby table Rory hooted, “Go robot power!” And I heard Birdie cheering, too.

  Using alligator clips, I connected the zinc nail and copper wire to the place where the old battery had been in the robot.

  “Let me zoom in on this,” said Ms. Gottfried.

  “All right,” I said. “Ready, get set! Go!”

  Nothing. The robot didn’t budge.

  “Maybe I put the positive side on the negative side,” I said. “The red goes on the positive. And the black goes on the negative.”

  Avery whirled around from the table next to ours. “Do you have them on correctly?” She puckered her lips, which were blueberry blue from her lip gloss demo.