The document describes experiments with a flashlight, card game, and pencil to demonstrate how objects may not function properly if parts are missing, broken, worn out, mismatched, or incorrectly connected. Students recorded in their science journals what happened when batteries of different sizes were placed in a flashlight, when certain cards were removed from a deck before playing a card game, and when graphite leads from different containers were used in a pencil. The purpose was to show that an object's operation can be affected if pieces are not intact, fitted together correctly, or compatible with each other.

1. The Missing Link

2. Science Indicator 4.6.2 If a part is missing, broken, worn out, mismatched or incorrectly connected it may not work right.

3. Definitions Missing- not found Broken- not working properly Worn out- cannot be repair Mismatched- two parts that don’t fit Incorrectly Connected- put together the wrong way

4. Background Information When pieces of an object are missing, incorrectly put together, mismatched, or a part is broken or worn out it could affect how the object operates. It may not operate at all.

5. Do you see the light? Take the flashlight and put 2 AA batteries in the flashlight. Turn the flashlight on. Write in your science journal what happened.

6. Do you see the light? Take the flashlight and put one AA battery and one D battery in the flashlight. Turn the flashlight on. Write in your science journal what happened.

7. Do you see the light? Take the flashlight and put 2 D batteries in the flashlight. Turn the flashlight on. Write in your science journal what happened.

8. Perfect Match Take the deck of cards and remove the 2, 7, 9, King and Ace. With a partner play Old Maid, with the Joker as the old maid. Write in your science journal what happened at the end of the game.

9. Perfect Match Put the 2, 7, 9, King, and Ace you removed back in the deck and play Old Maid again, with the Joker as the old maid. Write in your science journal what happened at the end of the game.

10. To Write or Not to Write Take the pencil and put the lead in the pencil from the container labeled A. Write the following sentence- I went to the store. Write in your science journal what happened.

11. To Write or Not to Write Take the pencil and put the lead in the pencil from the container labeled B. Write the following sentence- I went to the store. Write in your science journal what happened.

12. Questions Why did some things (flashlight, game, and pencil) work, but others didn’t? Can you think something else that wouldn’t work right if a piece was missing, broken, worn out, incorrectly connected, or mismatched?