Potato Power!

We are off to England for the week for a very special 80th birthday party.  After an irritating trans-Atlantic journey with an unscheduled stay-over in Chicago, we made it to London to see our silly nephews, Oscar and Lucas.  We always bring them a present, one fun and one educational.  Who knew that the educational gift would be the most fun. 

We brought them an Enviro Battery: 

 You can make a clock using potato power!  Light a light blub using lemon juice!  Wreck havoc in your mother's kitchen searching for metal silverware and bottles with screw top lids!

Oscar and Will reading the blue prints for a potato battery

 Will was the company's president.  Oscar: the Construction Engineer.  Lucas: Materials and Quality Control.

Materials gathered, directions read and reread, wires were cut.  Forks were gathered.  Wires were twisted and vegetables for dinner quickly became required equipment.

Lori's kitchen was transformed into the latest production center for an environmentally friendly clock, powered by potatoes.  

Discussion with the Engineers and Quality Control: why won't the clock set?

SUCCESS!

The Production Team

I am not sure who had more fun: the boys or Will, as they scurried around their laboratory making electric connections with fresh veg.  It was amusing for us watching that is for sure, especially as Lucas kept running around in his jammies, yelling "Potato Power!" Course, I am not sure if anyone could explain why potato was able to power the clock.  On the other hand, we might have helped create some future scientists!