Sea Monkeys

Mary found a library book and made a list.

2 liter pop bottles
brine shrimp eggs
air pump
yeast
non-iodized salt

She started making calls to local pet shops.

"Hello. Do you have brine shrimp eggs?" she asked as she took notes.

"She looks like an executive with her legs propped up while she chats on the phone," Bill observed.

She was coming up short.

"Maybe you can buy them at the comic book shop?" asked Bill.

He and I laughed as we recalled the comic book ads for Sea Monkeys - the King of the Sea Monkeys with a little trident.

"I think those take 6 -8 weeks for delivery," I said.

Mary continued to make phone calls in the background.

"You do have brine eggs! Great!" She wrote down the name of the pet store and the address. We did a map quest for the store.

She and her friend excitedly made the brine in their little aquariums and they add the eggs tomorrow. My daughter's aquarium is muddy and her friend's aquarium is clear. Observe and discuss.

You learn a lot by doing a science fair experiment. Very little of it is actual science. I do think that 5th graders acquire knowledge about the scientific method and about how to work with a partner and about developing a presentation. In this case she also learned how to place a professional telephone call and follow directions. And the best part of this experiment? We will soon have new pets!

"Can't she just make a volcano?" asked Bill. He was resistant to the idea of hatching shrimp in the house.

"They won't let you make volcanos anymore," said Anna. "Tha baking soda and vinegar damages the gym floor."

"What if your experiment is the effect of baking soda and vinegar on a gym floor?" Bill proposed.

Let's just hope the cats don't eat the Sea Monkeys. The King might take his Trident to Paco the Cat's Eye and the vet bills would be prohibitive.