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

From: Dave Mouat <dmouat_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Feb 14 13:28:37 2006
Message-ID: <43F221B3.7ADC6A2C_at_dri.edu>

Hi Martin and fellow Listees

Martin reminded me of what else I threw in: ammonia; but I only had ammonia-laced
soap. That added a bit-- The school never checked the ingredients I used and
might not have known what was controlled.

Dave

Martin Horejsi wrote:

> 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
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Received on Tue 14 Feb 2006 01:30:11 PM PST