Natural Things Swap

Are you looking to expand your collection of natural objects to make learning more interesting?  Interested in starting a collection of objects to play What Is It? 

Consider joining the Natural Things Swap. 

You'll collect a bunch of, for this example let's say, acorns.  You'll place each acorn in its own small bag and label it (or find a way to label it without the bag).  You'll mail all of the labeled acorns to me.  In return, you'll receive a box containing a sampling of the objects other people collected and sent to me. 

Ideas for objects to collect:
Seed pods (acorns, small pine cones, gum balls, buckeyes, etc.)
Pressed leaves
Shells/Egg cases
Small fossils
Nice rock specimens

Make sure you don't send anything that could rot or otherwise begin to smell...

How Many Objects:
Next week I will let you know how many people have expressed an interest in playing along.  You're welcome to send enough for everyone, and in turn you'll get back an object from everyone participating.  You're also welcome to only send a few objects, but keep in mind that you'll only receive back as many objects as you send. 

Cost:
You'll need to pay for the postage to mail the objects to me.  You'll also need to send $5 to cover the cost of mailing the collection back to you.  I'll provide you with my PayPal information, or you can include the payment in the box you mail me. 

If you want to play along...

1. Send me a message letting me know you want to play and what object you plan to send my way (only one person per object - we don't need to all exchange acorns...)
2. Share this swap with your friends, so they can play along too!
3. Collect your objects.  Clean them if appropriate and label them.
4. Mail the objects to me by the end of October (that date could be negotiable, let me know if you have a conflict and I'll consider making a change).
5. Make sure you've made your $5 payment - if you don't pay, you won't get a box back!
6. Check your mailbox for your arriving collection. 

So, what do you think???  You've got until 11:59 pm EDT on September 9, 2011 to let me know you're interested! 

It's...

...a dinosaur coprolite.

What's a coprolite, you ask. A coprolite is fossilized dung. That's right. Dinosaur (in this case) poop that's been turned into rock through the fossilization process.

If that doesn't get the attention of your students - don't tell them until after they've passed it around, felt it, looked at it, etc - I don't know what will!


By the way, I've been told that my coprolite comes from a meat eating dinosaur - that apparently one can identify bits of bone within the fossil. I am not one of those people who can make that identification... I'm just passing along what I've been told.

What Is It?

Got any ideas?
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What Is It? is a feature you can add to your classroom. Once a month, or thereabouts, put out something new and ask students to try to identify it. If they figure it out correctly, give them extra credit, a prize, a high five or bragging rights!

It's...

....a rock drill bit. This particular bit came from the Sterling Hill Mining Musesum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey.

Zinc was mined in northwest New Jersey until recently. It is also home to a highly concentrated number of fluorescent minerals. I highly recommend a visit if you're in the region. Many of the tour guides are gentlemen previously employed as miners at the mine - they provide quite a perspective as you tour the actual mine. In addition, there's a wonderful gift shop filled with various mining artifacts - I love my dynamite box! Great for school groups as well as families.

********
What Is It? is a feature you can add to your classroom. Once a month, or thereabouts, put out something new and ask students to try to identify it. If they figure it out correctly, give them extra credit, a prize, a high five or bragging rights!

What Is It?

Got any ideas?

************
What Is It? is a feature you can add to your classroom. Once a month, or thereabouts, put out something new and ask students to try to identify it. If they figure it out correctly, give them extra credit, a prize, a high five or bragging rights!

It's....

...a piece of petrified wood. I picked mine up* at the Painted Desert/Petrified forest when there on vacation.


*I purchased mine at a gift store within the national park, I did not pluck it from the park. That would be highly disrespectful and illegal.

******
What Is It? is a feature you can add to your classroom. Once a month, or thereabouts, put out something new and ask students to try to identify it. If they figure it out correctly, give them extra credit, a prize, a high five or bragging rights!

What Is It?

Consider adding a What Is It? feature to your classroom. Once a month, or thereabouts, put out something new and ask students to try to identify it. I will try to share some ideas for this feature with you periodically. Unfortunately, the virtual version of this game isn't perfect - you can't pick up the object to get a feel for its mass, density and to examine it from all angles. But hopefully I will give you some ideas for objects you can present to your students.
First up...


Look for an answer on Monday!