"He liked the slime," she says with a smile.

Another journal entry by a student of hers named Amanda has the words "I like the slim the most today," in fluorescent crayon above a picture of "Jenn."

Lenna Georgopoulos '97 wows the rest of the group by pushing a skewer through a balloon without popping it.

For just a minute, the room sounds like it's full of students instead of teachers--everyone exclaims how cool it is and grabs a balloon.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as talented as Lenna. Jennifer Mozeiko, an Extension School student, tries several times, causing the room to jump every time it pops.

The group members begin to kid each other, each imagining horror scenarios of standing in front of the class and saying "Watch this...,"only to have their balloon pop.

The group is discussing making slime, and those that have already done it are giving tips to the others.

"Make sure you have some paper towels," Do says, grinning.

Finally, Morazes gets the bamboo skewer through the balloon without popping it.

She gets applause, but is quickly overshadowed by Do, who manages to put two skewers through the same balloon and slip them back out again.

Villavicencio uses a vinegar/baking soda reaction to blow up a balloon. Everyone freezes, hands over their ears, waiting for the balloon to pop.

It doesn't, but it takes a minute for conversation to start again--everyone is eyeing the balloon.

This is part of a lesson for two weeks from now, the "firefighter" lesson, where the kids will learn about putting out candles with carbon dioxide and making a gas fill up a balloon.

Clarissa Bonanno '96 shrugs and says, "I don't have any more balloons."

"Why not?"