Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
> Frank wrote, > >P.S. I probably wouldn't use this trick on older students. They might >actually get the magnet off the table than then pinch their finger between >the magnet and table or meteorite. Coincidently, just the other day I was >playing around with a couple of rare earth magnets and the result was a nice >blood blister to show for it. Guess one of these days I'll grow up :-) Ooop, I almost forgot, Frank, Don't ever grow up! Well, not completely anyway! Tom Randall -- __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
Great story Walter and Frank! I was asked by a pre-school teacher I know to bring in a meteorite for her class after a little boy picked up a piece of blacktop outside and asked the teacher if it was a meteorite. She asked me if it was (knowing it probably wasn't) and I said no, it's not but I can show you a real meteorite if you want. Well his eyes lit up and the teacher then asked if I'd bring one in. Well, imagine 15-20 3-4 year olds sitting in a circle as I walk in with a 154 gram Canyon Diablo. Since their too young for the technical talk I told them it was a meteorite and that it came from Outer space, their little eyes just lit right up and they started oohing and Ahhing as I sat down and handed it to a little girl. They notice (like adults) the weight right away. They asked pretty good questions for such a young bunch, things like "it came from space?", "How did it get here?", "Why is it so heavy?". It's really a TON of fun showing kids meteorites, adults too for that matter. Although I'm not a dealer in meteorites, just a collector it's fun to educate the young and old about them. I think we did this thread awhile back but it's always great to read stories like these. Regards, Tom Randall IMCA #6170 >Hi Walter and all, > >Last year I also presented to a class of third graders and thought I'd share >a great way to get the class's attention (as if that is needed). Getting >ready for the presentation, I laid the meteorites out on a metal side table >which the teacher provided. Knowing that part of my talk was on how to >identify meteorites from terrestrial rocks, I obviously bought along a rare >earth magnet. A flash of genius struck ;-) >Holding tightly, I carefully put my rare earth magnet on the metal table. >(You probably know where I'm going). During the talk I asked young "Billy" >to come up and help me demonstrate that meteorites were magnetic. It was his >birthday and being a larger third grade boy made it all the better. I held a >small Canyon Diablo iron and asked him to pick up the magnet and show the >class how it stuck to the meteorite. Young "Billy" reached for the magnet >and..obviously wasn't able to move it, try as he might. Both he and the >class got a good laugh and the class paid even more attention than they >might have. >The third graders were a great age group to share our love of meteorites >with. Their minds were sponges, soaking up every bit of knowledge there was, >they were interested in and liked learning, and they were studying the solar >system. A perfect audience. >A few days later, I received a package containing letters from every one of >the students. I still have them, and hopefully they also still have their >small, weathered piece of the solar system (a great way to get rid of those >small broken weathered NWA pieces). > >Regards, >Frank > >P.S. I probably wouldn't use this trick on older students. They might >actually get the magnet off the table than then pinch their finger between >the magnet and table or meteorite. Coincidently, just the other day I was >playing around with a couple of rare earth magnets and the result was a nice >blood blister to show for it. Guess one of these days I'll grow up :-) > > > >__ >Meteorite-list mailing list >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list -- __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
Very enjoyable also Frank! Luckily you didn`t get bit while demonstrating to the 3rd. grade students! :) Oh, and by the way, you will NEVER grow up! Dave - Original Message - From: Frank Cressy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Walter Branch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 11:10 AM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids > Hi Walter and all, > > Last year I also presented to a class of third graders and thought I'd share > a great way to get the class's attention (as if that is needed). Getting > ready for the presentation, I laid the meteorites out on a metal side table > which the teacher provided. Knowing that part of my talk was on how to > identify meteorites from terrestrial rocks, I obviously bought along a rare > earth magnet. A flash of genius struck ;-) > Holding tightly, I carefully put my rare earth magnet on the metal table. > (You probably know where I'm going). During the talk I asked young "Billy" > to come up and help me demonstrate that meteorites were magnetic. It was his > birthday and being a larger third grade boy made it all the better. I held a > small Canyon Diablo iron and asked him to pick up the magnet and show the > class how it stuck to the meteorite. Young "Billy" reached for the magnet > and..obviously wasn't able to move it, try as he might. Both he and the > class got a good laugh and the class paid even more attention than they > might have. > The third graders were a great age group to share our love of meteorites > with. Their minds were sponges, soaking up every bit of knowledge there was, > they were interested in and liked learning, and they were studying the solar > system. A perfect audience. > A few days later, I received a package containing letters from every one of > the students. I still have them, and hopefully they also still have their > small, weathered piece of the solar system (a great way to get rid of those > small broken weathered NWA pieces). > > Regards, > Frank > > P.S. I probably wouldn't use this trick on older students. They might > actually get the magnet off the table than then pinch their finger between > the magnet and table or meteorite. Coincidently, just the other day I was > playing around with a couple of rare earth magnets and the result was a nice > blood blister to show for it. Guess one of these days I'll grow up :-) > > > > __ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
Hi Walter and all, Last year I also presented to a class of third graders and thought I'd share a great way to get the class's attention (as if that is needed). Getting ready for the presentation, I laid the meteorites out on a metal side table which the teacher provided. Knowing that part of my talk was on how to identify meteorites from terrestrial rocks, I obviously bought along a rare earth magnet. A flash of genius struck ;-) Holding tightly, I carefully put my rare earth magnet on the metal table. (You probably know where I'm going). During the talk I asked young "Billy" to come up and help me demonstrate that meteorites were magnetic. It was his birthday and being a larger third grade boy made it all the better. I held a small Canyon Diablo iron and asked him to pick up the magnet and show the class how it stuck to the meteorite. Young "Billy" reached for the magnet and..obviously wasn't able to move it, try as he might. Both he and the class got a good laugh and the class paid even more attention than they might have. The third graders were a great age group to share our love of meteorites with. Their minds were sponges, soaking up every bit of knowledge there was, they were interested in and liked learning, and they were studying the solar system. A perfect audience. A few days later, I received a package containing letters from every one of the students. I still have them, and hopefully they also still have their small, weathered piece of the solar system (a great way to get rid of those small broken weathered NWA pieces). Regards, Frank P.S. I probably wouldn't use this trick on older students. They might actually get the magnet off the table than then pinch their finger between the magnet and table or meteorite. Coincidently, just the other day I was playing around with a couple of rare earth magnets and the result was a nice blood blister to show for it. Guess one of these days I'll grow up :-) __ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
Great story Walter! I really enjoyed it! Dave
- Original Message -
From:
Walter Branch
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 7:02
AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and
Kids
Hello Everyone,
I recently had the chance to talk about meteorites to six classes of third
grade students, something which I enjoy very much. If you have not done this
and you get the opportunity, I would encourage you to do so. It is really a
lot of fun. Let me share a few of my observations.
Kids love the big heavy irons, bring at least one but make sure it is a
solid piece. They can pass it around but if it is a rust flaky Nantan, for
example, they will manage to peel off some lose rust spots and it is kind of
embarrassing to the presenter. Also do not let them handle a Sikhote-Alin
shrapnel piece. Some shrapnel have VERY sharp edges which can easily cut small
hands, which would also be embarrassing to the presenter.
I like to bring a large piece of quartz crystal with me to make a nice
contrast between a nice fusion crusted stone and terrestrial rocks and
minerals. Some kids, though, will be as interested if not more
interested in the quartz.
The children were very much aware of the monetary value of meteorites. A
girl asked how much I would offer her if she found a meteorite from the moon
and I jokingly responded, "well, at least $10.00." The kids got the joke
because they knew it would be worth much more than that. A few kids focused
almost exclusively on the monetary value of meteorites ("how is that one
worth, etc.").
I bring along several books with nice pictures of meteorites to augment the
presentation and my homemade "Magnet on a Stick" (actually, a big dowel rod).
My wife teaches third grade language arts and in her class, a girl had brought
in her rock collection for me to examine to determine if any were meteorites.
For now, lets call her the "Rock Girl."
I talked about the properties of meteorites and I demonstrated they are
attracted to a magnet and earth rocks are not. There are some terrestrial
exceptions but I figured why complicate matters by pointing out the rare
exceptions. Rock girl brings a metallic looking rock towards me, I hold the
magnet on a stick out to her, she places it on the magnet and low and behold,
IT STICKS.
Silence fell over the room and the little girl had a grin that stretched
from ear to ear. Simultaneously, my eyes open, my mouth drops and I hurriedly
bring the object closer for inspection. After years of working with
meteorites, I immediately knew what it was...
Hematite :-(
Okay, now I back peddle a little and explain that there ARE some earth
rocks that kinda look like meteorites and will stick to a magnet and HEMATITE
is one (you can see an example of this great meteorwrong on my website). South
Georgia is not known for large quantities of hematite but I failed to ask her
immediately where she obtained her sample. My mistake.
A little while latter I show the kids three large perfectly formed
tektites: a dumbbell, a disk, and a teardrop. I explain the differences
between meteorites and tektites, I let the kids hold them, and all of a sudden
the Rock Girl says, "I have one of those." She pulls a black glassy object
from a box on her desk and hands it to me. I look at the top surface and
recognize it immediately...
It's a tektite!
Now, you have to understand my excitement at this point. The Georgia
Tektite strewn field is about four or five counties west of the school. As far
as I know, no Georgia tektite has ever been found in Bryan County, which is
where the little girl lives. I looked over at my wife and after seeing
literally dozens of kg of tektites even she recognized it as a probable
tektite. I began thinking that the Georgia strewn field has just now been
greatly extended when I turned it over and my heart sank.
The other side was very smooth and concave, as if it were once part of the
interior of a larger object and was part of a gas bubble.
It was a Chinese tektite. Exactly like my presentation pieces and exactly
like the dozens of kg I have sold in the past. I then asked the girl how she
obtained her rock collection and she showed me her collection box with nice
glossy printed cards. The tektite (and hematite) were part of a set that her
father had purchased. Unfortunately, there were no meteorites in the set but
she did have the beginnings of a very nice rock collection.
This reminded me that about four years ago, one boy brought me a glassy
object that looked like it might be a tektite. I sent it to Bill Glass but the
microprobe analysis showed that it was not.
I showed a large slice of Allende and I casually asked if anyone could tell
me waht the large white spots were. After only a few hints, a teacher
correctly guess
RE: [meteorite-list] Meteorites and Kids
To
follow up on Walter's fine workWhen you add an astronomical spin to
the audience and throw in meteorites at the end, WOW!. I have given
hundreds of astronomy presentations to young and old. I show them pictures of
the Moon, Sun, planets, comets, asteroids, eclipses. But now, as a great
enhancer, at the very end, I pull out a piece of the Moon, NWA 482, and Mars,
DAG 476 (with a pix of Mars from HST), and they REALLY get
interested.
Share your knowledge and collection with the future hunters
and admirers...you won't regret it.
GR
-Original Message-From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Walter
BranchSent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 8:03 AMTo:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: [meteorite-list]
Meteorites and Kids
Hello Everyone,
I recently had the chance to talk about meteorites to six classes of third
grade students, something which I enjoy very much. If you have not done this
and you get the opportunity, I would encourage you to do so. It is really a
lot of fun. Let me share a few of my observations.
Kids love the big heavy irons, bring at least one but make sure it is a
solid piece. They can pass it around but if it is a rust flaky Nantan, for
example, they will manage to peel off some lose rust spots and it is kind of
embarrassing to the presenter. Also do not let them handle a Sikhote-Alin
shrapnel piece. Some shrapnel have VERY sharp edges which can easily cut small
hands, which would also be embarrassing to the presenter.
I like to bring a large piece of quartz crystal with me to make a nice
contrast between a nice fusion crusted stone and terrestrial rocks and
minerals. Some kids, though, will be as interested if not more
interested in the quartz.
The children were very much aware of the monetary value of meteorites. A
girl asked how much I would offer her if she found a meteorite from the moon
and I jokingly responded, "well, at least $10.00." The kids got the joke
because they knew it would be worth much more than that. A few kids focused
almost exclusively on the monetary value of meteorites ("how is that one
worth, etc.").
I bring along several books with nice pictures of meteorites to augment the
presentation and my homemade "Magnet on a Stick" (actually, a big dowel rod).
My wife teaches third grade language arts and in her class, a girl had brought
in her rock collection for me to examine to determine if any were meteorites.
For now, lets call her the "Rock Girl."
I talked about the properties of meteorites and I demonstrated they are
attracted to a magnet and earth rocks are not. There are some terrestrial
exceptions but I figured why complicate matters by pointing out the rare
exceptions. Rock girl brings a metallic looking rock towards me, I hold the
magnet on a stick out to her, she places it on the magnet and low and behold,
IT STICKS.
Silence fell over the room and the little girl had a grin that stretched
from ear to ear. Simultaneously, my eyes open, my mouth drops and I hurriedly
bring the object closer for inspection. After years of working with
meteorites, I immediately knew what it was...
Hematite :-(
Okay, now I back peddle a little and explain that there ARE some earth
rocks that kinda look like meteorites and will stick to a magnet and HEMATITE
is one (you can see an example of this great meteorwrong on my website). South
Georgia is not known for large quantities of hematite but I failed to ask her
immediately where she obtained her sample. My mistake.
A little while latter I show the kids three large perfectly formed
tektites: a dumbbell, a disk, and a teardrop. I explain the differences
between meteorites and tektites, I let the kids hold them, and all of a sudden
the Rock Girl says, "I have one of those." She pulls a black glassy object
from a box on her desk and hands it to me. I look at the top surface and
recognize it immediately...
It's a tektite!
Now, you have to understand my excitement at this point. The Georgia
Tektite strewn field is about four or five counties west of the school. As far
as I know, no Georgia tektite has ever been found in Bryan County, which is
where the little girl lives. I looked over at my wife and after seeing
literally dozens of kg of tektites even she recognized it as a probable
tektite. I began thinking that the Georgia strewn field has just now been
greatly extended when I turned it over and my heart sank.
The other side was very smooth and concave, as if it were once part of the
interior of a larger object and was part of a gas bubble.
It was a Chinese tektite. Exactly like my presentation pieces and exactly
like the dozens of kg I have sold in the past. I then asked the girl how she
obtained her rock collection and she showed me her collection box with nice
glossy printed cards. The tektite (and hemati
