[Rockhounds] children's rock kit

[Pmodreski at aol.com]

The kit sounds pretty good, Kitty.  You can't expect any one product  like 
this to cover "everything".
 
I would suggest that for any young person... or beginner old person (or  
anyone for that matter), a copy of the Golden Guide to Rocks and Minerals; there  
are many, many other rock & mineral field guides, but I still think this is  
about the best one for an introduction to the subject.
 
Pete
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/28/2008 5:46:54 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time,  
kahako at hawaiiantel.net writes:

Hi to  those on the list who are teachers or especially interested in 
inspiring  kids in our hobby:

I recently bought a Rocks & Minerals kit put  together by DK Eyewitness 
Books.  I got it at Costco for $19.69 and  it contains a 72-page book 
with lots of pictures and presents a multitude  of topics using only two 
facing pages (double-page spread) for each  topic.  The kit also contains 
a smaller 64-page book called "Expert  Files, a Hands-on Guide to Geology 
As Explained by Professionals in the  Field," a Clip-art CD, a booklet of 
tear-out profile cards, a wall chart,  a wall map of world geology and 
plates, and a set of paper cut-outs to be  folded and glued to form some 
basic crystal models.  These are all in  a fold-out box with pockets for 
each item, and the box fits in an  impressive sleeve about 9" x 12" x 2".

My impressions is that this is a  pretty good introduction to kids ages 9 
and up.  There are topics on  cutting and polishing, collecting, ores and 
metals, fossils, as well as  many others.  I have a couple of mild 
reservations:  for  example, the double-page spread on volcanic rocks 
makes no mention of  pahoehoe and a'a, however in another spread on "What 
are rocks and  minerals?" they show a picture and explain how "Pele's 
hair" is  made.  There's nothing on fluorescence or other types of  
luminescence.  And especially for kids, I think at least a page  should 
be on the many uses of rocks and minerals in human daily life, from  
cosmetics to bombs.  And I'm not enough of a scientist to know  whether 
their technical stuff is correct or not. 

I think that  before I give it to any of my young relations I'll keep it 
to show to  friends -- young and adult -- to get their impressions.  I 
tried to  find reviews on Amazon and elsewhere, but could only find 
comments on the  book (Rocks & Minerals, DK Eyewitness Expert) not the 
whole kit.   Any of you who have seen the kit, please let me know what 
you  think.

Aloha,  Kitty




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