May 21, 2011
Blast from the Past: Element Talk Show
Posted by Evelyn Mervine
Atom Unit Report Booklet. |
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Element Talk Show page. Note volcano lamp, James Randi picture, and artwork (by Randi’s talented partner) in the background. Click to enlarge. |
I’ve been sorting through more boxes today (trying to finally pack up all my books and notes!), and I’ve found a box that contains reports, drawings, and other assignments from my elementary school days. I can’t date most of these reports exactly, but they are definitely from my 2nd through 6th grade days. I was a student at a Montessori school in Vermont back then. I actually attended Montessori schools from pre-K through 8th grade. Montessori schools encourage creativity, among other things, and boy did I have some creative assignments. In Montessori school students tend to work on themed units, which can last a week to a few months. During this time, students study and produce work related to that theme.
Here’s a gem of a story, from my report booklet on the “Atom Unit.” I believe that I wrote this story (with my friend Joy) in 4th grade. I was (still am) *such* a weirdo and nerd, even back in elementary school. All punctuation, spelling, and grammar are original. Enjoy!
Update: I just noticed that I wrote the year (1994) on the back of the report. So, I was 10 years old and in either 4th or 5th grade when I wrote this report.
Element Talk Show
Interviewer: Today on E.T.S. we are going to interview Miss Fluorine and here she comes now.
Fluorine: Hello all you fans I’m Fluorine. Any Hydrogens out there? I’m a little jumpy I only have seven electrons.
(sits down)
Interviewer: So what exactly are you?
Fluorine: I’m a gas. They use me in toothpaste as SnF2, stannous fluoride.
Interviewer: So you mean I brushed with you this morning. You are inside this little tube?
(holds up toothpaste tube)
Fluorine: It’s a tight fit, but that’s right.
Interviewer: How nice. What else are you used for?
(Takes a sip of water)
Fluorine: They use me in water for your teeth.
(Interviewer spits out water)
Interviewer: What! I think I just drank your cousin!
Fluorine: That’s all right. I’ve got to go. Ta! Ta!
Interviewer: Now it’s time to have your star reporter Joy with her weekly report. Take it away Joy.
Reporter: Thank you, Evelyn. Mr. Neon was spotted by our cameras at Bob’s Dinner* in the window. He was last seen advertising foods the dinner serves. Let’s see if we can get a word with Mr. Neon.
Neon: It’s Miss Neon.
Reporter: How does it feel to be a light?
Neon: Well it’s a tight fit in this glass tube, but I enjoy giving off my glow.
Reporter: What are you Mr. Neon.
Neon: A Miss Neon, I’m a Miss Neon.
Reporter: No, I mean what element are you?
Neon: Well, I’m a gas. If I didn’t have an electrical current running through me I’d be colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
Reporter: Anything else? Where are your friends? Perhaps we can get one on our show.
Neon: I’m happy by myself. My outside shell is full of electrons. I don’t make any compounds.
That’s it. If there was another page, it was unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) lost.
*Yes, dinner, not diner. Hee hee.
ZOMG, that's adorable! And shows considerable talent! There's a future for you in the science-themed arts.
Awwww, thanks Dana! I've been too busy doing science these past five years to do much writing, but I always keep journals. And now I write on this blog, which is great stress relief at the end of a long day in lab (or, to be honest. when I'm procrastinating beginning a long day in lab). I have another year of my PhD to slog through, but after that I plan to take a few months off. Maybe I can do some more writing!My mom just posted a comment on facebook in response to this story. She says, "And people say 'wow your daughter goes to MIT?' and I'm 'oh I knew early on she was probably going there…' "Sifting through boxes of *really* nerdy school projects, I can see why my mom might have thought that. I have some excellent "Blast from the Past" material for the next few weeks.
Cute Evy.I still have my 8th grade science/research project, about….surprise surprise… Plate tectonics!!! Being the Middle East girl that I was, it included chapters about the Dead Sea transform, about the Red Sea rift, the Afar triangle and all. I think I even had a bit of a crush on Alfred Wegener…
Einat: A crush on Alfred Wegner! That's great :-). Your 8th grade report sounds fantastic!