The Journey of Pencil Lead: From Stars to Scribbles

What was the universe filled with before carbon existed?

• Rocks and minerals

• Water and ice

• A hot soup of high-energy particles

• Trees and plants

Where was carbon first created?

• Inside mountains

• In the ocean

• On Earth

• In the bellies of dying stars

What can carbon atoms become under high pressure and temperature?

• Diamond

• All of the above

• Graphite

• Oil or coal

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CCSS.RI.1.5

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CCSS.RI.5.5

What did shepherds use graphite for in the 16th century?

• To make jewelry

• To write letters

• To build houses

• To mark their sheep

Why do the sheets of graphite slide apart easily?

• Because of the strong bonds

• Because of their round shape

• Because of the weak bonds between sheets

• Because they are wet

Who discovered that mixing graphite with clay could change the hardness of pencil lead?

• Albert Einstein

• Henry David Thoreau

• Leonardo da Vinci

• Isaac Newton

What is the first step in making pencils at the General Pencil Company?

• Painting the pencils

• Sharpening the pencils

• Mixing graphite and clay

• Cutting wood

What happens to the pencil cores in the Grooving Department?

• They are baked

• They are sharpened

• They are painted

• They are placed between wood panels