Hi, I’m Axel, and I’m excited to share my experience with a really cool book I read at Family Matters: That Crazy Eddie and the Science Project of Doom by Judy Cox. For the past two years, Family Matters has been my go-to place for tutoring, twice a week, focusing on improving my reading skills. This summer was extra fun because, on Wednesdays and Fridays at Family Matters, my tutor and I didn’t just read – we brought the stories to life!
Axel engages in a reading session with his tutor at Family Matters, exploring books as part of the tutoring program.
That Crazy Eddie and the Science Project of Doom is a chapter book about two friends, Matt and Eddie, who decide to enter their school’s science project competition. Matt is really motivated to win the fifty-dollar gift card prize because he wants to buy a skateboard. He asks his friend Eddie to be his partner. Eddie, whose dad is a scientist, is full of fantastic science project ideas, so he’s the perfect partner. They decide to build a volcano that erupts – how cool is that?
As Matt and Eddie work on their volcano, they have a falling out. One day, Matt feels sick and stays home from school. When he returns, he finds out Eddie told everyone he was sick, which made Matt upset. With only one day left before the science contest, their project is unfinished, and their friendship is strained.
Things take a turn when Matt’s little sister climbs onto the roof to play with their cat! Matt’s mom is out, and he’s really scared. He runs to Eddie for help. Eddie, being a true friend, immediately helps Matt get his sister down safely. This experience reminds them of what’s truly important, and Eddie’s sister even suggests they should still finish their volcano and enter the contest together. They work that night to complete their project.
In the end, Matt and Eddie don’t win first place; they come in third. Matt is a little sad he didn’t get the skateboard money, but he realizes something even better: having his friend back is more valuable than any prize.
I really connected with this book because I love volcanoes! It was also great to see how Matt and Eddie resolved their problems, stayed friends, and even helped Matt’s sister. It taught me about friendship and working together, even when things get tough.
After the story, the book has a section called “How to Make a Volcano That Really Erupts!” My tutor and I read this part carefully and figured out what we needed to build our own volcano at Family Matters. I brought in some supplies from home – a cardboard box, flour, and even a couple of dinosaurs to decorate it!
Building a volcano science project at Family Matters tutoring, inspired by “That Crazy Eddie and the Science Project of Doom”.
Building the volcano took three tutoring sessions. First, we used a Pepsi bottle and masking tape. We covered it with newspaper, water, and flour to create the volcano shape. We had to be precise with measurements, which was like a mini science experiment itself! Then, we let it dry completely. During my next session, we got to paint it, making it look like a real volcano.
Axel painting his volcano model as part of a hands-on science activity at Family Matters.
Finally, the eruption day arrived! We used baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and red food coloring. We carefully poured everything into the volcano using a funnel and waited… Nothing happened. We tried again, still nothing. We thought maybe our baking soda was too old, so we went to the store for fresh baking soda. Even then, it didn’t erupt right away. Finally, we added way more vinegar than the instructions said, and BOOM! It exploded!
The exciting moment of eruption for Axel’s volcano science project at Family Matters tutoring.
The eruption was amazing! I loved making the volcano and seeing it explode. Next time, I want to add even more red food coloring to make the lava extra vibrant. Reading That Crazy Eddie and the Science Project of Doom at Family Matters wasn’t just about reading; it was about bringing stories to life and learning through fun, hands-on activities. It showed me the importance of friendship, problem-solving, and the excitement of science, all within the supportive environment of Family Matters.
