The Amazing Science Fair Project: Project Kids Adventure #3 (2nd Edition)

By Gary M Nelson

Amanda was terrified. Sure, she and her friends had built a huge tree house and an awesome haunted house together - but now she was in way over her head. Those projects had been for fun - but this one was going to be marked! She and her lab partners have to do a class project for the School Science Fair - but they have absolutely no idea where to start or even what to do. Have they finally met their match?

Meanwhile, the boys have big problems of their own, and the outcome of their project could mean life or death! OK, maybe not actual death, but they could end up cold, wet and hungry, and with no electronics...for a whole weekend!

Join the Project Kids in their third big adventure as they come together to unravel the mysteries of Mice, Men...and Marshmallows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary M Nelson
• Release date: Jun 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781991152565

Gary M Nelson

Gary M. Nelson, BSC, PMP (Gazza) is passionate about sharing knowledge and making Project Management concepts more accessible, particularly to new and aspiring Project Managers (of all ages). Said another way, he likes to tell stories to help convey complex concepts in a way that helps the concepts 'stick'. Who says learning shouldn't be fun?Born in Calgary, Alberta (Canada), Gary moved west to B.C. at the very early age of 2, where he spent most of his formative years - aside from a 6 year stint where he learned to appreciate living in a very small town of 800 people. He then attended high school in Surrey, B.C. and went on to graduate from Simon Fraser University (BC, Canada) in 1989 with a major in Computing science and a minor in English - an odd but useful mix (a techie who can write clearly)!Gary was tricked into becoming a Project Manager by his first manager, and has never looked back. His international experience includes projects in New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the US and Canada, working on projects in the Telecom, Student Information Systems, Local Government and Healthcare sectors.Having wanted to write books since high school, it took many long years of successful procrastination until he finally felt he had something useful to write about, and wrote his first book of stories in 2012...on Project Management, of all things. Next, presented with the terrifying challenge of writing for children, he enlisted his youngest sons to be the first victims (reviewers and editors) and the Project Kids series of books were born. Several years on, he is amazed to see the books being translated into multiple languages, and reaching into schools and homes around the world.He enjoys speaking and training, has presented at numerous events and conferences and is also the author and host of Gazza’s Corner Project Management Blog and Podcast.Gary currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, three sons and two cats, and is loving every bit of it.

Book preview

Put that back in the bowl, you’ve had enough sweets today!

Aww, Mom! protested Ben, "But there’s only two Halloween chocolates left. Pleeeease?"

Mrs. Jones put down the potato she was peeling and turned to face her son. "No means no. Besides, I am cooking a special dinner for tonight. I don’t want you to spoil it by eating too much candy."

Ben crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "It’s not fair. Amanda and the others won tickets to the theme park, and now she gets a special dinner too. Olly and I won first prize for the Halloween contest, but I get nothing."

"This dinner is for the both of you. You both won something special, so stop sulking."

"I am not sulking!" Ben growled as he jammed his fists into the pockets of his hoodie.

Oh really? smiled his mother.

Ben grunted and walked into the living room. He picked up the TV remote and flicked through the channels. Nothing much was on TV on Sunday afternoon - at least nothing he wanted to watch. He flicked the TV off and dropped the remote on the couch.

The house was suddenly very quiet, with only the noise of his mother peeling vegetables in the kitchen. Ben slowly wandered back down the hallway, clicking his tongue loudly. I’m bored!

Why don’t you go outside and ride your bike? suggested his mother.

There’s nobody to ride with, complained Ben. They’re all at Mega Play World with Amanda.

Just go outside and play.

But- began Ben.

"Please go outside, and give me some peace and quiet while I prepare dinner, insisted his mother, or there will be no dessert!"

"OK Mom," sighed Ben. He loved his Mom’s desserts - they were much better than a couple of tiny chocolate bars anyway.

Ben put on his shoes, then grabbed his bike and helmet from the garage. He pushed the bike part way down the driveway before he stopped to put on his helmet. His dark brown hair pushed down over his deep brown eyes as he tried to clip the helmet strap together. Neither his hair nor the clip was cooperating with him today.

"Agghhh!" he shouted, and yanked the helmet off his head. He was about to throw it onto the grass, but the vision of Mom’s dessert stopped him. He took a deep breath, pushed his hair back and tried the helmet again. This time, his hair stayed put and the strap clicked together easily.

Mom may be right. I might need a haircut, thought Ben. Not that I would ever tell her that, though.

He slipped his right leg over the bicycle and hopped up on the seat. Pushing down firmly to get started, he pedaled out onto the road and automatically turned towards Tim & Tom’s house.

He frowned, and turned the bike around to go the other way around the block. Tim and Tom, the red-headed twins, were at the amusement park with Amanda, along with Alice, Susan and Becky. Even his other best friend James was with them. They had all worked together on the Haunted House that had won them tickets to the amusement park. All except Ben, who had paired up with Oliver Winston on the winning display.

We won - but it sure doesn’t feel like it, thought Ben. He hadn’t seen Oliver since the contest, but he was in the middle school like Amanda and probably didn’t want to play with little kids like Ben any more than he had to.

Grrrrrr! growled Ben as he pumped the pedals harder. He passed by James’ house and started another loop around the block. He missed his friends, but he felt a little betrayed too. Frankly, Ben didn’t know what to feel, but he knew he hated feeling lonely.

If only…

Hey Ben! called out James. He was waving and holding something in his hand. We just got back, and I brought you something!

Ben drove his bike up onto James’ driveway and stopped beside the car. Susan and her Dad had gone inside already. James was grinning from ear to ear, holding one hand behind his back. His dark blonde hair was a bit more bushy and messy than usual, probably from all the rides. There was a dark brown stain on his shirt that matched his eyes. Ben hoped it was just hot chocolate.

"It was totally awesome, you would have loved it, started James, then paused as he noticed the scowl growing on Ben’s face. Umm, well, it was OK, I guess. But we will have to go again - with you, next time. But hey, I got you something, so you didn’t totally miss out."

James pulled his hand out from behind his back and handed Ben a large bag of cotton candy.

Ben’s scowl melted into a smile as he reached out for the bag of pink fluff. Thanks James!

You’re welcome. But hey, I’ve got to get inside, Mom was calling us in for dinner as soon as we pulled up, shrugged James. So I’ll see you tomorrow!

Thanks, James - see you at school! waved Ben as he hopped back onto his bike and started off home.

When he pulled up into the driveway, he saw his father’s car parked up close to the house. Ben rode his bike up to the entrance of the garage, and hopped off to push it in past his Mom’s car. He parked the bike with the others, then looked longingly at the bag of cotton candy.

He was just about to open it when his mother called everyone for dinner. Ben rushed upstairs and threw the bag of cotton candy onto his bed before he went into the bathroom to wash his hands.

Ben was the last one to sit down at the table. His father looked at him as he passed the gravy. How was your day, Ben?

OK, I guess, sighed Ben.

I think he missed his sister, said his mother. "Two whole days with the house to himself, and he just didn’t know what to do."

Ben grunted and stabbed a boiled potato with his fork. It wasn’t Amanda that I missed, thought Ben.

Anyway, began his father, "It is a big park, and it was a good thing we had two days to do it all. Next time, the whole family will need to come - but I don’t know when, I’ve had enough rides for a while!"

Ben glared at Amanda, who was staring down at her plate, cutting a piece of roast beef. He couldn’t see her face clearly behind her long brown hair, but he thought he saw her smirk.

Well, at least all of that excitement is finished with and when you go back to school tomorrow, everything will be back to normal, smiled his mother.

Now, make sure to finish all of your veggies, because I made a special dessert!

Yes, Mom, said Amanda.

Ben shoved a chunk of potato into his mouth and started chewing faster.

2.Relatively Speaking

Ben left for school a little earlier on Monday morning. It wasn’t that he liked school that much, but he thought he might get a few extra minutes to play with his friends before the bell rang.

He was just crossing the street into the park when Tim called out. Wait for us!

Yeah, wait up! yelled Tom.

Ben waited on the grass, standing beside the little wooden posts that ran along the edge of the park. Tim and Tom ran up to him, and then they walked into the park together, heading toward the swings and the school beyond. So I guess you had fun this weekend? Ben asked through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, it was awesome, you totally should have been there, said Tom. The rollercoaster was amazing, and there were so many rides…"

"But it wasn’t the same without you, so it wasn’t really that much fun, said Tim, elbowing Tom in the ribs. But you need to ask James about what happened on the roller coaster, he squealed like a pig!"

Ben paused and turned to look at Tim, eyebrows raised. But James isn’t afraid of heights - is he?

Tom winked. I don’t think so. But he might be afraid of girls now…

C’mon Tom, James said it was just because Becky squeezed his hand so hard, it was all white when he got off the ride, said Tim.

"He was holding her hand? asked Ben, eyebrows even higher. I mean Becky is an OK kid, but why…"

Tim shrugged. We may never know. James pretty much had his hands in his pockets all weekend after that.

By now they had crossed the other street and entered the grounds of J.P. Watson Primary school. Their shoes crunched loudly in the rounded gravel.

Race you to the swings! yelled Ben, as he started running towards the playground. Tim and Tom ran as fast as they could, but Ben was already sitting in one of the swings when they reached the playground.

No - fair! panted Tom.

…You didn’t - wait gasped Tim

…until you said - go! complained Tom.

Ben just shrugged and pushed off, swinging back and forth with all his might. Soon, his feet were reaching just above the top bar of the swing. I’m the king of the wooooorld! yelled Ben.

Tim and Tom exchanged glances and shook their heads. Ben! they groaned together.

When the first bell rang, the boys reluctantly slowed the swings and hopped off. They were walking toward their classroom when the sound of someone crunching through the gravel behind them made them stop and turn around.

James came to a sliding stop beside Tom, then bent over, red faced and panting. His hair seemed messier than normal, if that was possible. Sorry, I slept in, he gasped.

Too many rides, I bet, growled Ben.

Nah, Mom forgot to turn her alarm clock on. Everyone was rushing around this morning, but at least I’m not late. Dad was late to leave for work though. Susan has further to walk, said James, then stood up. Maybe she’ll be late, he winked. Might get detention.

You can only hope, said Tom.

That’s not very nice, said Tim, frowning.

Tom shrugged. Neither was beating us all at the balloon pop and getting the best prizes.

Ben’s cheeks