Why science experiments are called "experiments."

Experiments are experiences that sometimes go well and sometimes go horribly wrong. Enrichment support 5th graders attempted three experiments yesterday. They did not go well. 

First, we were observing the properties of a candle flame. Then we attempted to blow out the candle and relight it by holding a match in the smoke.  We could not make this happen.  Next, we observed the effect blowing air around a bottle toward the candle had on the flame. 

After working on these experiments and lighting several matches, it started to smell like sulfur and there was a small amount of smoke in the air.  Suddenly we realized that if we continued in the classroom we ran the risk of setting off the fire alarm. That would be horrendous.  

We moved our experiments outside.  No sooner had we sat down to begin our third experiment, one of the students attempted to remove a glass straw from a cork.  It slipped, cracked, and he got a small cut, no bigger than a paper cut, on his thumb.  We moved ourselves to the nurse's office, where his cut was washed, cleaned, and bandaged. 

I am sharing our trials and tribulations because our experiences yesterday proved that experiments do not always go well.  We also learned that safety is paramount, troubleshooting possible issues is imperative and that despite planning sometimes scientific experiments teach unexpected lessons. 

We will not give up!  We will press on, planning, troubleshooting, and being cautious as we explore science this year.