| Herb |
|
| |
| #1 |
Here's what I do with my fossils in a classroom...
I blow up drawings of past geologic periods from a Golden Press - Golden Nature Guide - of Fossils. They're 4" X 6" small guides which include many Nature topics. Then I color the larger copies with colored pencils and put them in large clear plastic folders. I can then line them up to show geologic time progression.
I divide my fossil categories into 4 types:
1. Molds/Casts
I continue from where I left off with the previous Rock presentation about how water with dissolved minerals can fill up volcanic air bubbles, and describe the water with minerals filling up any empty hole - like empty clam or snail shells. Water dries up leaving minerals or crystals behind.
I compare the mold/cast to their experiences in making clay or plaster of paris objects.
A 6 pound hematite cast of a big snail. Agate snail casts
 
Clam with calcite from Rucks Pit in Florida
2. Petrified/Replacement
Water with minerals soaks into wood, bone, etc. The water dries up leaving the minerals behind. Here I show
Agatized pine cone w/white seeds - Florida agatized coral
  
Petrified wood - turtle from Japan - baby mammoth tooth
  
3. The Real Deal
Most of the students are familiar with Jurassic Park movies, so describing real bugs in amber is familiar to them. I also talk a little about ongoing projects to clone mammoths and other ice age mammals from arctic frozen DNA samples. They're fascinated with the possibility of "living fossils".
Showing bugs in amber/copal.
 
4. Evidence
Sometimes we don't have the fossil itself - we have evidence that it once lived. Footprints, worm borings into marine wood, or (uuuggghhh) Dung!
Polished dino dung before The Revelation - Dino and other dung - worm borings
  
After this, I just show various fossils and tell a bit about them. They like concretions. I tell how you must break open dozens to be lucky enough to find a nice one.
My best crab - Scallop
 
I like trilobites, I show small and large ones. And how they sometimes rolled up like rolly-pollys.
 
Fossil leaves and ferns are interesting. (Thanks Joe D. for the St. Claire fern.)
 
From Green River formation, shrimp, fish, Bonanza UT. grasshopper and cricket
  
They like shark's teeth - the 3 1/2" one I found, the 5" I bought at a rock show.
A dragonfly from Germany and a baby dinosaur from China
 
This is some of what I do with fossils. There's more, but maybe this will help.
Herb |
| Loading... | | |
| jay bates |
|
| |
| #2 |
Herb great fossils and presentation. Makes me want to sneak in and sit among your young admirers and listen. |
| Loading... | | |
| Joe D. |
|
| |
| #3 |
Herb,
That looks like an interesting show. Letting them hold the fossils and rocks is the best method of keeping their attention. Even I, as old as I am, have a hard time trying to understand Geologic time periods.
Joe D. |
| Loading... | | |
| Gemhunter |
|
| |
| #4 |
HI Herb,
WOW that is a great way to teach the children about fossils and rocks. Thanks for sharing this with us all Herb.
KOR Carl in WI |
| Loading... | | |
| John Cornish |
|
| |
| #5 |
Hi Herb,
I just wanted to thank you and pass on how proud and honored I am to be your friend! These two Rock Presentation posts of yours are absolutely precious. Your props, techniques and just you being you, what a wonderful combination! I hope that someday opportunity allows me the chance to see one of your presentations, I can only imagine the hurt my face will experience from all the smiling!
Thank you so much for sharing!
All the very best!
John |
| Loading... | | |
| Sandy B |
|
| |
| #6 |
Way to go Herb,
I like visuals! I bet the kids had a great time! Great display.
I bet the kids went home and that's all they talked about all night.
Sandy B |
| Loading... | | |
| Mike Streeter |
|
| |
| #7 |
Way cool, Herb! Thanks for sharing a teaching technique honed to perfection by MANY years of practice and unbridled enthusiasm.
Mike |
| Loading... | | |
| Herb |
|
| |
| #8 |
Thanks
I appreciate all of y'all's comments. It's just the teacher inside me who likes to keep on teaching and share some of the things I've collected with anyone who is interested. In the next 4 weeks I'll be demonstrating Bonseki at a rock show, rocks and fossils again at 4 third grade classes in Woodburn, OR, and Indian culture and legends to 2nd graders back at Gates Elem. near here.
I just hope that I can help or influence other members of this message board to get out and share their collections and knowledge with students.
I'm not anyone special, I just really get a wonderful positive feeling when relating with kids. It's something that most can do with some encouragement.
I had several very special mentors and teachers as I was growing up and developing who showed me their special treasures and shared their enthusiasm for life and their knowledge of things they were interested in. This is is a torch I enjoy passing on.
This message board is filled with potential mentors and torch carriers.
I'll try to put together some more postings when I do my Indian presentations later.
Later
Herb
|
| Loading... | | |
| Junesse |
|
| |
| #9 |
Herb, you are a true Mentor. I agree that there's nothing in the world like watching a kid's eyes light up when you reach them. You can almost see the connections being made between the concept and the real thing. And so many schools just don't have the resources or the depth of knowledge for these kids anymore. I feel honored that you helped me with "my kids" for Science Olympiad. I had to pass the torch this year, but the help you and so many others on this board gave to the school will be felt for years to come. Although I'm not completely gone, they are going to tap me for special sessions and for tournaments this year. |
| Loading... | | |
| Denise |
|
| |
| #10 |
...in true Herb fashion! Thank you for your dedication Herb. |
| Loading... | | |
