Refraction along with Rare Earth Metals

This week we are reading about Lanthanides.  There was a noticeable difference in the appearance of the straw in the glasses with corn syrup, rubbing alcohol or water. So, refraction wins and science was easy. It was not so easy to take the time for my early elementary kids to write out their lab reports, because there was a tree to prune on a beautiful 45 degree Fahrenheit day.