[Rockhounds] Junior Geology

[gene at fossilnut.com]

For those who have access to the spoil piles at Aurora NC, here is an idea. I collected about 8 buckets of the material several years ago and brought it home. I washed screened and dried it and put the fossil gravel in plastic bags. Working with one of the Science Superintendents in a local school district I put together a lab. Each child (6th thru about 9th grade) get a glass full of gravel (about 6 or 8 ounces), a flat white card, a glued specimen holder and a tweezer or brush to use the pic and stick method. They also get instructions to search for the shark teeth on elasmo.com and a small sheet of some of the other fossils. The intent is to see how many different fossils can be identified from the material. It is a very popular lab. I kow of other fossil gravels and marls which would provide a similar lab at other locations.
Gene Hartstein
Newark, DE

>Anita: I have had success by asking grade school students to point out 
>objects in the classroom which have been made using minerals as 
>constituents. It is easy to come up with a dozen or more, each pointing out 
>how important minerals are in our everyday lives. (Chalk used to be easy, 
>but lately, I have not been able to find chalk in the classroom! I guess my 
>age is showing! (sigh!))
>
>Larry
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Anita D. Westlake" <libawc at emory.edu>
>To: "'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'" 
><rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 7:23 AM
>Subject: [Rockhounds] Junior Geology
>
>
>> Hi Folks:
>>   I'm staffing a booth at an upcoming festival here in Atlanta. The
>> organizer wanted me to do something on "Jr. Geology". I've thought about
>> getting a baby swimming pool, filling it with sand and hiding some
>> "treasures" from the rock world.
>>   I've also got a thing called "The Name Game" where you match up rocks
>> with their names.
>>   Does anyone have any other ideas? This is for the 1-12 year old crowd, 
>> so
>> I need something quick and dirty. Nothing complicated, but something they
>> can learn from and enjoy. (I don't ask for much do I?)
>>   Thanks for any ideas you can share,
>> Anita
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
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