Construct 1:
Einstein’s knowledge of science enables him to recognize misinformation hidden a the perpetrator’s story
In “Relics of a Lost Continent” (“Einstein Anderson Shocks His Friends”), Einstein’s friend Margaret tells him that she has used a Geiger counter to date a dagger. However, because Einstein knows that Geiger counters use Carbon 14 which is only found in plant or animal materials, it would be scientifically impossible to use a Geiger counter on a metal object. Will your piece include a tale/scenario that is based on a scientific impossibility? (This is the most common construct in the Einstein Anderson stories)
Construct 2:
Einstein catches the perpetrator of the challenge/problem in a lie
In “Fireside Story” (“Einstein Anderson Goes to Bat”), Mr. Evans, an employee in Einstein’s father’s veterinary hospital, was fired. He returned to find some shoes he left behind (or so he said). A fire started in the attic and when asked about his knowledge it, Evans said , “It was an accident . . . “I lit a match to look around. I was holding the match and it touched one of those big dusty cobwebs that are all over the attic. In a second the cobweb burst into flame.” The lie is “the cobweb burst into flame” because cobwebs only char; they do not burst into flame. Will one of your characters tell a lie?
Construct 3
: Einstein Anderson knows and/or uses scientific principles
In “The Big Parade” (“Einstein Anderson Goes to Bat” ), Einstein knows that , because of Archimedes’ principle, the work in carrying someone sitting on a chair on poles is only the same when the chair is centered from end to end on the poles. He takes advantage of this knowledge to place the chair closer to one end and then takes the other end with his friend Mike so that their load is much lighter. Will your character take advantage of knowledge of a scientific principle?
Construct #4:
Einstein Anderson uses his brain while others rely on brawn
Seymour Simon and Einstein Anderson set up situations where Einstein outsmarts older students or the bully Pat. In “The Sleigh Race” (“Einstein Anderson Shocks His Friends”), Einstein challenges the seventh graders to a sleigh race and even tells the sixth graders that he is so confident of their winning that they will start ten feet behind the older kids. The relative absence of inertia puts the sixth graders ahead at the finish line in a short race. Will your detective use his brain to outthink others?
Construct #5:
Einstein’s challenges seem to go against common sense
Which would be the easier test of strength—folding a sheet of newspaper in half nine times or pushing a drinking straw through a raw potato? In “Paper Tiger (“Einstein Anderson Goes to Bat”), Pat chose paper folding..and lost. Einstein reveals the trick on how to push a straw though (pinch one end of of the straw tight to stiffen it and then push it straight into the potato quickly) Will your detective present a challenge . . . and win?