Hope everyone had a great summer! It's back to school and back to working on the 'ole rocks/minerals/fossils presentation. I have so many rocks that I am taking the fossils out of my original presentation and creating a new presentation. My friend went to Norway and asked me what I wanted her to bring back and I said "rocks". She was surprised at first and then thought it would be interesting to see what she could find. I'm REAL interested to see what she finds.

Some of you requested a copy of the outline I use for my presentation.  The following is my grade 3-5 outline. 

I. Introduction to Rocks and Minerals 

-ice, salt, gems 
-short explanation of igneous/sedimentary/metamorphic rocks 

II. Types of Rocks

1. Igneous: samples and explanation of volcanic/plutonic rocks
2. Sedimentary: samples
3. Metamorphic: samples and comparison samples of rocks that have changed (ex: limestone to marble)

III. Geodes 

- samples in various stages of development (agate to quartz to crystal beds) 

IV. Polished rocks and Agate Slabs 

- an explanation of how rocks are polished and how they are dyed different colors 

V. Cave Rock (as time permits) 

- rock with large calcite content, demonstration of what happens when hydrochloric acid comes in contact with calcite (it fizzes and smokes) 

VI. Presentation ends with the kids choosing there own polished rock to keep 

I'll post the one for grades K-2 later. Since I have pulled the fossils out of this presentation I have compensated by concentrating on one particular sample - pyrite - and it's many forms (small/large cubes, cube clusters, color variations, etc.). 

I'm not going into too much depth here so if you want more information let me know. 

Any questions, suggestions, additions are welcome! 

Last year I took a chance and did the grade 3-5 for the 2nd graders at a local school because the teachers insisted this was a "sophisticated" group and they needed the more "advanced" presentation. It was the worst group of kids I have ever presented to - I got through less than half the presentation and the kids did not get a polished rock at the end. 

The problem? Before I started the teachers told the students that anyone "acting up" would be removed from the room and would not be able to see the presentation. Now, I work in a continuation (alternative) high school and I would never remove 1 child, always 2 (or more if necessary) so the "1" is not singled out. However, these teachers didn't removed ANYONE. They spent the whole time threatening and not doing ANYTHING and as a result, within less than 10 minutes the entire room was out of control and unsalvageable. Had I done the K-2 (which is telling a story AFTER they get the rock) I have no doubt they would have all behaved. 

My advice? If you are planning on putting together a presentation, trust your instincts and follow them! 

More to come.... 
Leslie