Solids, Liquids, Guess Who's Got Gas?: Lucy's Lab #2 (2)
#2 in Lucy'S Lab Series
What’s inside...
Autumn has arrived at Granite City Elementary School and everyone is excited for the Harvest Festival, except for Lucy who doesn't like dressing up. However, Lucy is intrigued by the new science unit on the states of matter taught by Miss Flippo. As Lucy and her friends explore solids, liquids, and gases, a field trip and a classmate's stomachache help Lucy grasp the concept of gases. This realization sparks a creative idea for her Harvest Festival costume. This book, the second in a series by Michelle Houts, integrates STEM themes and encourages young readers to explore science.
Character compass
Lucy
Cee
Miss Flippo
Discussion points
What did you find interesting about how solids, liquids, and gases behave?
Can you think of an experiment you would like to try after reading Lucy's adventures?
How do you think Lucy felt during her discoveries? Have you ever felt the same way?
Which part of the science fair did you enjoy the most and why?
How could you use what you learned from Lucy’s Lab to help solve a problem at home or school?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their everyday experiences with different states of matter, like water freezing or boiling.
Ask your child to draw or describe their own science experiment inspired by the book.
Discuss the emotions Lucy might have felt during her scientific discoveries to enhance empathy and understanding of the character.
You could organize a mini science fair at home, allowing your child to present what they learned from the book.
Praise your child’s curiosity and encourage them to ask more questions, fostering a deeper love for science.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Scientific Inquiry
Explanation: Lucy's adventures in 'Solids, Liquids, Guess Who's Got Gas?' revolve around her curiosity and experiments with different states of matter, encouraging a hands-on approach to learning science.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by exploring and questioning the physical world around them, conducting simple experiments with household items to understand basic scientific concepts.
Example Lesson: Teamwork in Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Lucy collaborates with her classmates to uncover scientific mysteries, demonstrating the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be reflected in children’s lives through group activities in school or collaborative projects at home, teaching them the value of diverse perspectives and collective effort.
Example Lesson: Importance of Observations
Explanation: Lucy meticulously observes changes in states of matter, which helps her learn and understand scientific principles. This emphasizes the significance of observation in science.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to observe changes in their environment, such as weather patterns or phases of the moon, to develop critical thinking and increase scientific literacy.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in Learning
Explanation: Lucy faces challenges in her experiments but continues to try and understand, illustrating the science learning process isn’t always straightforward but requires persistence.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that not every experiment or new concept will be immediately understood, and that perseverance is key to mastering new skills or knowledge.
Example Lesson: Communicating Scientific Ideas
Explanation: As Lucy explains her findings to friends and teachers, she learns to communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
Real-World Application: Children can practice explaining their thoughts and ideas, which not only solidifies their own understanding but also enhances their communication skills.