Maple keys are magical.

When we walk to the library we cross a rail bridge and my kids always collect up things to drop over the bridge.  Originally it was a physics demonstration: what happens when this falls? how do you think shape, density, thickness affects how it falls? what else can effect the results? Small rocks, leaves, bits of bark, sticks, flowers, grass, newsprint airplanes, tree seeds have made the journey over the side to the tracks below.  We have created and tested theories, and have been disappointed by and marvelled at the results.  Over the years somethings have been edited from the toss.  Rocks, sticks, and grass usually don’t do anything exciting.  Leaves, bark, and tree seeds continue to fascinate.  This weeks trip to the library we realized that maple keys had begun to accumulate on the ground.  We each grabbed up a handful to bring to the bridge, and on the count of three (making sure we had the right wind direction first) we released our offerings to gravity.  Dancing, spinning, and spiralling down, sun glinting, shadows swallowing, we watched their descent, until the last one clicked to a stop on the gravel below.  Natural design, air resistance, wind direction, mass, distance, speed… still magic.