Learning About Science from Slime

After completing their holiday vacation reading of Phineas L. MacGuire…Gets Slimed!, by Frances O’Roark Dowell, fourth grade students in Miller Place School District’s Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School celebrated the story of main character Phineas and his quest to become the best fourth-grade scientist ever, by performing science experiments of their own.

Students split into two groups and participated in four stations of interactive activities. Throughout the day, students made “slime” and completed a series of scientific tasks that included using microscopes to examine various enclosed mold spores. Fourth graders also played a game of “Science Jeopardy!” to test their knowledge and understanding of the book.

The reading celebration aimed to help students grasp the book’s many lessons and portray them in a way that is fun, motivating and sparks interest in reading and science.

Photo 1: Fourth grade students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School in Miller Place School District recently celebrated the book “Phineas L. MacGuire…Gets Slimed” with a day of book-themed interactive activities. While at the microscope center, students Timothy O’Shea, Connor McCarthy and Nicholas Southworth examined mold spores in honor of main character Phineas and his quest to become the best fourth grade scientist ever.

Photo 2: Fourth grade students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School in Miller Place School District recently dressed in lab coats to celebrate the book “Phineas L. MacGuire…Gets Slimed.” Students participated in different activities such as making their own “slime.”