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what color is the water? Are there any odors? Is the bank muddy, rocky, or sandy? Are there plants? Are there any pipes nearby? Cover and store your sample in the refrigerator and test within twenty-four hours.

W hile there’s no single book that gives all of the answers to every science mystery (except for Drake’s book, of course!), scientists are still on the same page when it comes to the scientific method.
    Step one: scientists observe. They examine, they prod, they peer, and they poke. They write it all down in their lab notebooks.
    Step two: based on their observations, scientists develop a hypothesis, which, if you recall, is a scientist’s best guess as to what is really happening or what will happen. Remember Drake and Nell and the floating tent? Likely Nell’s hypothesis sounded something like this: “Based on our observations, I believe the tent floated off because it was pitched over a fumarole. I believe the fumarole filled the tent with hot air, making it behave like a hot air balloon.”
    Step three: scientists test their hypothesis. (After all, what if the hypothesis is wrong? What if there really are werewolves? Gadzooks!) In testing their hypothesis, scientists follow a procedure. In the following experiments and activities, you will also follow a procedure. It is important to read through the instructions and set out all the needed materials before beginning the experiment. So sharpen your pencils, open your lab notebooks, and let’s get started.

    Did You Know?
    Want to know more about paleontology? How about fumaroles, water pollution, or ham radios? While the Internet provides many handy and excellent resources, use caution. There is a lot of mis -information on the Internet, too. Why? Because anyone can post anything on the Internet, and no one is required to be correct. So, when you’re looking for answers (and not just any answers, but the right answers), go to your local library. There you will find books written by experts . Having trouble finding just the right book? No problem. Just ask a reference librarian; they’re there to help. After all, they’re experts, too!

I magine it. You’re a top-notch scientist, assigned to a baffling werewolf case at midnight on Waxberry Hill. Just as the howling begins and your scalp crawls with terror, the tent expands and floats off into the night. Are werewolves to blame, or is there a more obvious solution? As a top-notch scientist, it’s your job to find out.…
    MATERIALS
    •   thin plastic dry-cleaner bag (this is the tent)
         Note : The thinner and larger the bag, the better. Try evening gown–size dry-cleaner bags—they are about five-and-a-half feet long.
    •   4 large paper clips

    •   lightweight fishing line (this is the leash, to keep your tent from flying away!)
    •   hair dryer

    (CAUTION: Look over your shoulder now and then, just in case a werewolf is lurking. Don’t let their howling unnerve you …)
    PROCEDURE
    This activity works best outside on a cool day or in the coolest part of the day. Do not do this activity if there is a breeze.
    1.   Reduce the size of the opening of the plastic bag (tent) so that it will act like the mouth of a hot air balloon. To do so, gather together small sections of the opening and firmly secure each section with a paper clip. When finished, the mouth of the plastic bag (tent) should be about twice the size of your fist.

    2.   Tie a long piece of fishing line to one of the paper clips so that your bag (tent) is retrievable.
    3.   Hold on to the opening of the plastic bag (tent) with one hand. Insert the hair dryer into the opening and turn it on. (Heat should be on high. Be careful that you do not burn yourself or melt the bag.)
    4.   Once the bag (tent) is filled with hot air, turn off the hair dryer, hold on to the loose end of the fishing line, and release the bag (tent).

    5.   Watch in amazement as the bag (tent) floats up, up, and away!
    6.   Now