AW: [meteorite-list] Elementary school presentation tips?

From: Martin Horejsi <accretiondesk_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Feb 14 13:02:06 2006
Message-ID: <9c2f96d20602141002l20a216b5s9ecccdf6b3b6c15a_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Walter and all,

The dry ice comet is a great demo if you are allowed to do it.
Sometimes dry ice and ammonia are on the elementary school banned
list.

This activity is one of the more accurate demos possible, and usually
you can get great off-gassing jets projected using an overhead.

The activity can be found here under comet basics:

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/classroom/guides.html

And a cool pic if you haven't seen it is in my latest Accretion Desk
article at the Meteorite Times .com is a pic of Carolyn Shoemaker and
Paul Wild are building a dry ice comet. Here is the pic's caption:

"In a most memorable convergence of people in time, Paul Wild who
discovered comet Wild2 in 1978, and Carolyn Shoemaker, the discoverer
of more comets than anyone else on this planet build a model comet
with dry ice, ammonia and sand."

Cheers,

Martin

On 2/14/06, Walter Branch <branchw_at_bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> >"made" the comet (dry ice, water, syrup, "dirt"). Placed
>
> yea, good one!!!
>
> Beats the old baking soda and vinager volcano!
>
> -Walter
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Mouat" <dmouat_at_dri.edu>
> To: "Martin Altmann" <altmann_at_meteorite-martin.de>
> Cc: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: AW: [meteorite-list] Elementary school presentation tips?
>
>
> > Dear Gary and fellow Listees
> >
> > There has been a lot said about the topic of presenting to young kids.
> Humor,
> > imagination, enthusiasm, the right level (not over their heads but not
> under
> > either), good speaking skills (if you're concerned about this part, write
> notes
> > and practice with someone). Martin's suggestion of giving them little
> specimens
> > is a good one. Years ago, I offered to talk about comets and
> meteorites/meteors
> > to a 4th grade class. A certain ex-dealer sold me about 25 small Gibeons
> for a
> > really good price. I put them in little glass jars (10 or 20 ml), handed
> them
> > out. I brought some large irons with a window polished and etched, a
> large
> > chondrite, a large slice of Albin. The 4th grade class went nuts,
> however, when
> > I "made" the comet (dry ice, water, syrup, "dirt"). Placed the pyrex jar
> in
> > front of a fan, made sure the kids were more or less behind the "comet",
> poured
> > warm water into the mixture.
> >
> > Have a good time with this!!
> >
> > Dave
> >
> > Martin Altmann wrote:
> >
> > > 5. Take little samples with you (small Gaos, Canyon Diablos, Henburies)
> and
> > > distribute them as little presents, for them exitedly showing them to
> their
> > > parents and friends.
> > >
> > > Buckleboo!
> > > Martin
> > >
> > > -----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
> > > Von: meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com
> > > [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces_at_meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von
> Larry
> > > Lebofsky
> > > Gesendet: Dienstag, 14. Februar 2006 16:43
> > > An: gary_at_webbers.com
> > > Cc: Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> > > Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Elementary school presentation tips?
> > >
> > > Gary:
> > >
> > > I have been doing this with kids from elementary school up through
> college
> > > for
> > > some time.
> > >
> > > Everyone does this differently since we all have different backgrounds
> and
> > > expertise. Don't be afraid to say that you do not know the answer. This
> is
> > > better than giving them bad information. I am an asteroid scientist so I
> > > know a
> > > lot (but not everything) about asteroids and a lot less about
> meteorites.
> > > That
> > > is a part of why we do what we do: to learn more.
> > >
> > > 1. Keep it fairly simple (but be prepared for some good questions). You
> > > might
> > > start out by asking them simple questions about what is in the Solar
> System.
> > >
> > > Good chance to feel them out. At this age they may know about Cassini
> and
> > > other
> > > recent missions or they might not know there are nine (or 10) planets.
> > >
> > > 2. Make connections: show pictures of asteroids and meteors. Explain
> > > asteroid,
> > > meteoroid, meteor, meteorite.
> > >
> > > 3. LET THEM HOLD THE STUFF (if not too fragile or valuable). If you have
> an
> > > iron (best because it is different), hand it around with an equal-sized
> > > meteorwrong. It makes a point. Most other meteorites "look like rocks"
> so it
> > > is
> > > difficult for young kids to relate to these coming from space.
> > >
> > > 4. Have fun, get excited: you may get a few converts to science (or at
> least
> > > an
> > > interest in meteorites).
> > >
> > > Hope this helps.
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > > Quoting "Gary K. Foote" <gary_at_webbers.com>:
> > >
> > > > Hi Everyone,
> > > >
> > > > Ron Wesel has been gracious to offer some samples of NWS to me for a
> > > couple
> > > > of class
> > > > presentations I will make on meteorites this coming month. I've been
> > > reading
> > > > all the
> > > > books and think I know it all now [HA!]
> > > >
> > > > Ron and a few others had some good advice [thanks everyone], but I
> wonder
> > > if
> > > > anyone else
> > > > can offer me some tips on making a good, lasting impression on 8 year
> > > olds.
> > > >
> > > > ______________________________________________
> > > > Meteorite-list mailing list
> > > > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> > > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dr. Larry A. Lebofsky
> > > Senior Research Scientist
> > > Co-editor, Meteorite "If you give a man a fish,
> > > Lunar and Planetary Laboratory you feed him for a day.
> > > 1541 East University If you teach a man to fish,
> > > University of Arizona you feed him for a
> lifetime."
> > > Tucson, AZ 85721-0063 ~Chinese
> Proverb
> > > Phone: 520-621-6947
> > > FAX: 520-621-8364
> > > e-mail: lebofsky_at_lpl.arizona.edu
> > > ______________________________________________
> > > Meteorite-list mailing list
> > > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> > >
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> >
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> >
>
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Received on Tue 14 Feb 2006 01:02:04 PM PST