[meteorite-list] Elementary School Show n Tell

[Gary K. Foote]

Rob,

It has me thinking about loaning out my small collection to the hospital for display in 
their lobby for a month.  Public viewing and collateral learning materials are important. 
 

Is your exhibition permanently open to the public?

Gary

On 2 May 2006 at 1:48, Rob McCafferty wrote:


> Gary,

> 

> It's fantastic isn't it, the look on the faces of the

> young ones who truly appreciate what it is they see

> and hold. 

> 

> Two weeks ago I was  fortunate enough to be loaned a

> sample of Apollo rocks for my own exhibition up here

> in the Western Isles of UK. A few hundred people came

> along and most of the kids at the school saw them too.

> I would have liked more to come but sadly advertising

> is not allowed until the samples have long gone. 

> Yet many of the adults were truly awestruck by what

> they were holding (albeit encased in lucite), it

> having been part of their growing up.

> 

> The natural history museum lent me a fist sized iron -

> which always got a reaction when I dropped it into

> someones hand - a rather tatty pallasite, a lovely

> large chondrite slice, polished to perfection with

> fusion crust on one side, a Murchison and a Nakhla

> (only about 1cm square but still a piece of Mars).

> 

> The exhibition was a great sucess, the police were

> great over the security arrangements for the week and

> it made front page news in the local papers which was

> also nice.

> 

> My personal thanks must go out to a few people who

> allowed me the opportunity to  put together my own

> collection in the run up. I'm well and truly hooked

> now. If only my wife would share my enthusiasm.

> 

> So thanks to Greg and Adam Hupe, Michael Cottingham,

> Siegfried Haberer and especially Eric Twelker. Without

> you guys, the display would have been much less

> impressive.

> 

> Delighted it went well for you Gary, I understand how

> much work is needed, especially with the little ones. 

> 

> Rob McCafferty

> 

> --- "Gary K. Foote" <gary at webbers.com> wrote:

> 

> > Well, list, I finally got together with the first

> > grade and the third grade classes at 

> > the local elementary school for a little meteorite

> > presentation.  I took along about 15 

> > or 20 of my own specimens as well as a NWA fragment

> > for each of 27 children [courtesy of 

> > Rob Wesel of Nakhla Dog Meteorites].  Thanks a

> > million Rob.  The kids were thrilled to 

> > each have a little piece of something that actually

> > came from outer space.  

> > 

> > First my wife and daughter [who works at the school]

> > passed out a meteorite to each 

> > child.  We also gave each classroom a Sikhote for

> > their own display.  Then I opened by 

> > asking who knew what a meteorite was.  The talk just

> > kind of flowed from their questions 

> > that popped up all over the place.  Along the way I

> > told them about their meteorite 

> > fragments and showed them an individual NWA and a

> > slice of NWA869 and told them of their 

> > geographical relationship.  I used the map on the

> > class wall to point out NWA.  

> > 

> > I had each child rub their hands together briskly to

> > demonstrate friction and then 

> > compared that to the air 'rubbing' on the meteor as

> > it flew thru the atmosphere, burning 

> > and melting and eventually exploding, either above

> > the ground from air pressure or upon 

> > impact.  We also talked about meteorite origins.  We

> > let them handle all but the slice of 

> > 869.  We passed a few irons around to let them feel

> > their weight.  They got close up 

> > after to look through magnifying glasses we brought

> > along.

> > 

> > Etched Gibeon slice

> > NWA Individual

> > Sliced NWA endcut with high metal content

> > Campo 'Space Coin'

> > Three Campos

> > Three Sikhotes

> > 10 Tektites

> > Canyon Diablo

> > Meteorwrong

> > 

> > We had fun - the kids had fun and they learned

> > something and now each holds a piece of 

> > the sky in their pocket.

> > 

> > Here are three pictures my wife took;

> > 

> >

> http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/comwayel1.jpg

> >

> http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/comwayel2.jpg

> >

> http://www.meteorite-dealers.com/images/comwayel3.jpg

> > 

> > Thanks again Rob!  The kids really were amazed to

> > have what you gave them.

> > 

> > Gary Foote

> > http://www.meteorite-dealers.com

> > 

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> > 

> 

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