1 Mrs. Kim's students walked into their classroom. All of the furniture had been moved around. Instead of rows, the desks formed tables. In the center of each table was a cardboard box. The children looked puzzled.
2 "We're going to do something different today," announced Mrs. Kim. "I would like for each of you to find a place at one of the tables."
3 The children did as Mrs. Kim instructed. After all the places were filled, Mrs. Kim continued. "Each table is going to work as a team. Under the box on your table is an instrument a scientist would use. You may know what the instrument is."
4 "Are we going to get to use the instrument?" asked Ginny.
5 "Not right away," answered Mrs. Kim. "I will tell you when to begin. You will look under your box. Don't let any other team see what is there."
6 "It's a secret!" exclaimed Jody.
7 "Make sure everyone on your team has seen what is under the box. Examine it carefully. Then I want your team to sit together with paper and pencils."
8 "How did I know we would have to write something?" said Shad to Marty.
9 "You will write a description of the instrument without using the name of the instrument. You may say how big it is. You may say what color it is. You may tell what it is made from."
10 "But we can't use its name?" asked Matt.
11 "No," answered Mrs. Kim, "you will keep that a secret. Then you will write about how that instrument might be used."
12 "But," interrupted Maddie, "what if we don't know how it is used?"
13 "If that is the case," continued Mrs. Kim, "you and your group need to discuss the instrument. Come up with an idea of how it might be used."
14 "Wow," sighed Chris, "this could be harder than I thought."
Paragraphs 15 to 27:
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