It was a beautiful day in Crystal Pond Woods. The animals were outside enjoying the great weather and preparing for the annual Crystal Pond Picnic. All of the animals, that is, except for Sybil the Scientist. 

A scientist is a very special person. One of the things a scientist does is make careful observations of the world around her. Observation is a fancy word for looking at things. But a scientist does not just look at things.

 Sybil uses all five senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and sometimes tasting. She carefully records this information, which she calls data, in her journal. 

As Sybil collects data or new information, she tries to organize or categorize the information according to rules.

 Sybil wears a white laboratory coat to protect her from possible spills in the laboratory. Her laboratory coat has many pockets filled with her most important objects. One of the objects she always carries with her is a magnifying glass. 

The magnifying glass allows Sybil to observe objects more closely. 

What are some of the other objects Sybil carries? Can you think of some reasons why Sybil carries these items in her pockets?

Sybil works in a very exciting place — a laboratory. Sybil’s laboratory is a very busy place with many experiments going on. Sybil is very curious and loves to make observations, to set up experiments, and to think scientifically. 

That day, as Sybil was writing her observations for the morning in her science journal, Jordan the Judge stopped by. Jordan and Sybil were going to play in the softball game at the annual picnic.

 “Hi, Jordan,” said Sybil. “I will be ready as soon as I finish recording my observations.” 

Sybil locked the laboratory, and they left to enjoy the softball game and Crystal Pond Woods picnic. 

 “Hi, Jordan, “I will be ready as soon as I finish recording my observations.” 

Sybil and Jordan never finished the softball game. Sybil chased a long fly ball into the woods and, while looking for the ball, she discovered a group of creatures she had never seen before! 

Sybil was very excited, as scientists are when they make a new discovery. 

Sybil, with Jordan’s help, gathered the new creatures together and took them back to her laboratory where she could make careful observations.

Sybil was the first scientist in Crystal Pond Woods to discover the creatures. After she safely returned to her laboratory with the creatures, Sybil began to think scientifically. 

First, she read her science books to see if any other scientists had written about these creatures, but she could find no information in her books.