I smiled and clipped the paper into the correct section of my binder Just then the bell rang Remember class Doc said as we quickly cleaned up our work stations In just two weeks Cape Elementary has the honor of hosting the first ever Massachusetts STEAM Convention My ears perked up I had been waiting all summer for this Students and teachers from across the state were coming to our Makerspace to spend the day working on exciting projects There would be group competitions hands-on experiments and even a chance to work with professional scientists I hope you’re all ready to run on full STEAM Doc joked over the hustle and bustle Get it STEAM Rana and Louie met me at my table their backpacks zipped and ready to go Nice job with Vesuvius over there joked Rana 6
She poked Louie in the ribs At least mine doesn’t look like something from the lint drawer Louie replied Are you kidding said Rana waving her fabric creation in the air This is clearly a fashionable tassel They’re everywhere this season I’m just keeping up with the trends Break it up you two I said Both of your projects looked great Easy for you to say Alana said Rana I bet you built that entire robot by hand during study hall didn’t you My cheeks blushed slightly You did said Louie The Science Whiz Kid strikes again Let’s go I said Maya’s waiting for us in the cafeteria It’s mac and cheese day Rana Louie Maya and I had been best friends since kindergarten We had lunch together every day at the same round table in the corner of the 7
cafeteria As we headed for the door Doc tapped me on the shoulder Can I speak with you for a moment Alana he asked Go ahead I said to the girls Save me a seat There was a burnt hole in the elbow of Doc’s white lab coat I wondered how it got there I’ll get right to the point said Doc fidgeting with his pocket protector I am nominating you for the eighth-grade STEAM Expo I nearly lost my balance and toppled over Me I asked The STEAM Expo was a competition open only to eighth graders It was the highlight of the STEAM Convention Every school nominated one student to compete When Doc told our class this I hoped he would pick me When I never heard anything I figured he must have chosen someone else Yes you said Doc I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you until now but that’s part of the rules It was 8
the only way to keep the playing field level So you’ll do it I would be honored I answered Eureka said Doc I think you have a real shot of winning You are a gifted scientist Alana O’Brien I beamed at the compliment Your challenge is simple he continued Take a tool and change its purpose Pretty open ended right That’s what makes it so hard The possibilities are endless My mind buzzed Take a tool and change its purpose I repeated Like turning an egg carton into a seed garden Or using a potato to light a light bulb Exactly Doc answered Can you help me with the project I asked Doc hesitated Well he said technically I am allowed to offer guidance But I cannot give any hints or 9
