herchenx
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 29, 2013 0:41:52 GMT -5
Last week I took a batch of polished rocks to my son's preschool class. The kindergarten teacher took notice and asked me if I would come to her kindergarten class, which I did today. While I was there the 5th grade class got wind and dropped in and asked me to come present to their class, as did the second grade class. My son is in preschool at a small Christian School, and they are fairly resource constrained, so they have been jumping on the chance to have me come and share. I let all the kids have a polished rock and several of other types of pretty things I bring (flourite, pet wood pieces, belemnite fossil pieces) My favorite part is when I dump the big bag of tumbled rocks and all of them "OOOOH!" at once. My scaling application didn't like the aspect ratio of the teacher's cell phone pics so some of these are a little skewed. Checking out the flourite pieces:  trying to decide on the best one:  showing off some opal in pet wood from Wyoming  Looking at rose quartz, amethyst and clear quartz crystals - thanks for the crystals John! (Thunder69)  I've been slacking off tumbling because at first it was SO cold, and then I've just been busy, and now it's cold again, but I need to beef up the reserves, the prettiest ones (that I haven't set aside for my own collection  are getting gone! |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 29, 2013 6:45:24 GMT -5
That is very cool John, Its always great to see any kids show interest in something that's not a video game or on television. Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures.
Chuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jan 29, 2013 7:01:08 GMT -5
Those kids showed more interest in your stuff in an hour than my stuff gets in a year!I would have left w/out a single rock.Tumbled rock is better than candy to kids(and older kids too).
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 7:49:33 GMT -5
Way to go John. Kids are the most fun to be with because they show real interest and most love to learn rocks.
I went to my daughter's (she is the teacher) class of 7th graders and I was afraid I would not have enough info to cover the 45 minutes. We could have gone on for another hour. She teaches a class of children with learning and behavior disabilities and the other teacher in the class told me "that was the most these kids have paid attention the whole year". I had a blast teaching and joking around with them. Since I was "broke in" I did a photo and talk session about China. Same outcome.
You need to be commended again about raising your kids the right way. It doesn't take beating them into line, all it takes is being there and spending time with them and teaching them.
Jim
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 29, 2013 9:31:27 GMT -5
That's a nice story John. I wondered what you'd do with all those rocks you've been tumbling. I haven't given any away yet because my son stashes them all under his bed.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 29, 2013 10:10:49 GMT -5
Awesome John,
I do the same thing after every nature walk I take kid out on here at the ranch. Everyone has a ball, even the parents who usually stuff their pockets full too. I also make stone necklaces for the little gals and fossil sharktooth necklaces for the boys and hand out things like fossils and cut geodes.....Mel
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 29, 2013 11:01:34 GMT -5
Thanks all for sharing your own stories. Jim, I remember you telling about speaking in your daughter's class with the special needs kids, very cool story which has stuck with me since. Same for you Mel - great to share stuff with kids in general, but when you can combine the nature walk plus the ranch experience PLUS the "take away" (necklace etc.) that has to mean a ton to the kids and their parents.
James, for now I limit them to one tumbled stone so I can go do this with other groups. That would be the main motivation for me to resurrect my monster tumbler (commercial 64# bad boy) so I could give them each a pocket-full of rocks and still have more to share, but I'd need to find a better source for hundreds of pounds of tumble rough than I have so far, maybe this summer!
Limiting them to one tumbled stone plus one or two others (crystals, fossils etc.) lets me sit them all back down and go around and tell them what each stone is (they can do their own "show and tell") and the teacher or I can label the small zip loc bag so they can remember.
I fall short as a dad a lot by working too much and missing opportunities to do things with my kids, even when I realize (usually later) that they are asking to spend time with me. Often it is because I feel them wanting to run spend money on something that will break or be wasted. Rocks are great with my own kids because we can all go look together, they love seeing a new batch "hatch" with me, and we all enjoy picking them over - plus they hang onto their collections and take care of them - not the same with the plastic toys we used to get them.
In spite of all the rocks we do have, they (like me) never tire of seeing something new and shiny.
I've realized that as guilty as I am of missing opportunities with my own kids, many kids never have those sorts of times (that our family has) with their own parents - which is why I love going to the school.
I love finishing with the statement that "whether or not you've ever picked up a rock and saved it before, all of you now have started collecting rocks - and that is something you can do the rest of your life!"
I'm having some other families start to inquire about looking for rocks, and I am going to try to invite some others along this summer to do our weekend crash rockhounding trips (leave Friday night and drive very late, set up a tent and camp in the dark, get up early in a completely new place, look for rocks for half a day and then drive the other half a day back home)
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Post by orrum on Jan 29, 2013 11:05:39 GMT -5
Thats allright, this forum has folks that truly promote skill set dynamic growth hobbies to the youth!!!!!
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steveo
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 273
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Post by steveo on Jan 29, 2013 11:13:12 GMT -5
That is really so cool for you to take the time. GREAT job.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 29, 2013 12:05:59 GMT -5
Awesome!
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Jan 29, 2013 12:10:40 GMT -5
Kewl John. Kinda a 2nd job fer ya. Now I know what ya look like if we can ever meet up. Later Clyde
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jan 29, 2013 12:34:49 GMT -5
That is so neat, and the kids all look so excited. wonder how many pebble pups you gave the bug to?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 13:20:58 GMT -5
You must feel very nice after sharing your hobby with so many children. What a terrific thing you did.
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Post by helens on Jan 29, 2013 17:27:19 GMT -5
Those are awesome pix, and what a wonderful thing you are doing for the hobby... introducing it to the next generation:)!
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
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Post by Thunder69 on Jan 29, 2013 21:08:32 GMT -5
John that is awesome....I have helped a couple of kids here with stuff to do their science projects....One did pet wood another did one on tumbling , the one last week is doing it on crystals . I always load them up with polished rocks to give to the class,,,,
You did good.....John
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Jan 29, 2013 22:50:01 GMT -5
I've had the chance to do a few talks to preschoolers and it is fascinating and joyous watching their minds focus on science and ask questions because they want to learn rather than being forced to.
Glad u had a chance to spend some time in their world.
It's a great place.
Lowell
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Post by gingerkid on Jan 30, 2013 18:20:29 GMT -5
;D Really enjoyed your pics, John! They are having a great time with the materials you brought for them! Awesome!!
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are getting gone!
