Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 PLANTING SEEDS FERGUS AND ZEKE loved being the class pets in Miss Maxwell's room. Everything the children did, Fergus and Zeke did, too. They listened at storytime... painted masterpieces in art class... and kept their own special calendar and journal.

One day, Miss Maxwell made an announcement. "Our school is having a science fair," she said. "Everyone will make a project or do an experiment, and in two weeks, we will invite the science fair judges and our families to see our work." "Cool!" said Emma. "I'm going to make a model of the solar system." "I'm going to do an experiment with plants," said Will. "I'll find out how they grow best." "I want to do a project with animals," said Lucy. "But I'm not sure what my experiment will be." Fergus and Zeke wanted to be in the science fair, too. But they weren't sure what to do either.

The next day, Will planted bean seeds in little cups of dirt. He gave them each a drink of water. Then he put one cup in the middle of the classroom. He put one cup by the window. He put a third cup in the coat closet. "It is very dark in there," Fergus said. "Plants need light. I do not think that plant will grow." "Our cage is nice and sunny. We should do a plant experiment, too," said Zeke. So he and Fergus buried three sunflower seeds.