[Rockhounds] Junior Geology

[Anita D. Westlake]

This would be fun (and challenging) for adults too.

I play "Stump the Expert" all the time. When I really don't have a clue what
something is, I say "What you have here is a genuine ROCK!" Sometimes I get
laughs, sometimes smurks...

Oh, and I also have a very light weight rubber "squeak toy" that looks like
a piece of granite. It's mixed in with real rocks on the table. I find a
likely suspect and say "Hey: Catch!" I get a good laugh watching the kids
try to dodge the flying rock. When they realize they haven't been bruised or
bloodied, they laugh too.

Anita

-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Kreigh
Tomaszewski
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 10:34 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Junior Geology

Anita,

There are several other matching games you can play...

	Matching minerals to rocks. For example, granite typically contains
	quartz, feldspar, and mica.

	Sorting out igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock and 
	mineral specimens.

	Matching before and after metamorphic rocks. Sandstone becomes
	quartzite as an example.

	Matching ores to the metals/products that come from them. 

	Matching mineral specimens to their crystal systems.

You could have kids polish rocks by hand on sheets of sandpaper glued
down to boards, and polish them on felt or carpet. 

Have them identify minerals by streak and hardness tests. Just pick your
'unknowns' carefully so you don't have two with the same combination.

Have a display of the 26 most common rocks and minerals they are likely
to find in the area. Don't forget to include some common landscaping
rocks like marble chips. Use nail polish to put a letter on each
specimen because they will get mized up as the kids handle them.

And if you are brave, play Stump The Expert. Invite kids to bring a rock
or mineral specimen they found (in their yard) for identification. 

Sounds like fun!

Kreigh





Anita D. Westlake wrote:
> 
> 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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