1. Finnegan Force: Adventures with Friction
By Emily Schmitz

2. There once was a boy named Finnegan Force Who loved to play outside.
He was always seeking adventures
With his puppy by his side.

3. Finn loved the seasons; spring, summer and fall,
He enjoyed the beauty of them all.
But he spent winter with much hate,
For Finn lived in Michigan,
one of the snowiest states.

4. He found winter to halt his fun,
Because he disliked the cold and longed for the sun.
But one day his mom said with a smile,
“Finn, why don’t you play outside for awhile?”

5. Finnegan nodded his head And whistled for his dog Scout.
He was itching to find excitement,
So he bundled up and the two headed out.

6. As expected for Michigan weather So Finn took off his gloves
The air was bitter cold
As expected for Michigan weather
So Finn took off his gloves
And rubbed his hands together.

7. The harder he pressed his hands, The warmer they started to be.
Finn didn’t realize why or how
He was actually producing heat.

8. Finn decided it was best To investigate this traction
And then he suddenly realized
It was none other than friction!

9. Between two things that rub together. It also slows things down
Friction is the force
Between two things that rub together.
It also slows things down
Or stops movement all together.

10. When Finn rubbed his hands together He could very plainly see
That he was converting kinetic energy
Of that motion into heat.

11. As Finn and Scout continued They decided it would be good
To look for other cases of friction
Around the neighborhood.

12. Stopped at the big red sign And then he began to wonder
Finn watched as a car
Stopped at the big red sign
And then he began to wonder
If friction was evident this time.

13. Cars could not stop or go. When the driver applies the brakes,
Without friction,
Cars could not stop or go.
When the driver applies the brakes,
The wheels start to slow.

14. The friction between the tire surface
And the break pads slow the wheels,
While the friction between the wheels
And the road slows the car.

15. With two examples of science fun That is a fact, not friction
Finn was satisfied
With two examples of science fun
That is a fact, not friction
(Please pardon the pun!)

16. Finn turned the corner and saw, (After he stopped to think)
That the neighbor’s fishing pond
Was now a beautiful skating rink.

17. Finn noticed his friend Miranda Skating with ease and grace
Scout barked in greeting,
Bringing a smile to her face.

18. Because the narrow blade of the skate
Ice skating works
Because the narrow blade of the skate
Causes very high pressure underneath
As it supports the skater’s weight.

19. A thin layer of water is created And it lubricates the blade
The skater can glide with little friction
Over the ice that had been made.

20. Finn waved goodbye to Miranda, And trudged for home in the snow
He was excited that his day was filled
With discoveries he didn’t previously know.

21. Finnegan realized that winter, Without the warmth of the sun,
Still had adventures to offer
Including science fun!

22. The End