[meteorite-list] Help desperately needed for presentation to second graders

[Matthew Martin]

Hi Susan,

Those are young kids so your lesson/topic should not delve too deep  
into specifics.  While I teach 7-12 and have taught 4-6 in the past, I  
don't have experience with 2nd grade.  However, my experience tells me  
that a good topic would be the solar system in general.  It may or may  
not be a review for them...many schools teach the solar system at or  
around this level--check with their teacher(s) ahead of time.  If you  
can let them know ahead of time what you will cover, they may also be  
able to arrange their preceding lessons to prepare the students for  
your visit.

For an activity, I would suggest having them model the solar system.   
There are a variety of ways to do this...balloons work well with that  
age.  Have them blow up balloons to different sizes (and colors) to  
understand size relationships between the planets.  Most party shops  
carry variety packs with a mixture of colors.  They also may carry  
black balloons which I would use for the asteroid belt.  This is where  
I would tie in the meteorites--their probable origin.

You could create a very simple model of two solar bodies (cross  
sections perhaps made out of styrofoam)--one, a planet, and the other  
a large asteroid (this will show them how similar the two bodies are).  
  Without going into specifics of density and differentiation, I would  
keep it simple...such as "the inner part of a planet is called the  
core.  This means your model would have only two colors/regions in its  
interior at its simplest form.  Explain to them that like the Earth,  
large asteroids too have cores.  The core of planet Earth is made of  
molten iron (you may want to bring in an object made of iron as a  
visual (i.e. horseshoe).  Then share with them that large asteroids  
likely have a core of iron too.

At that point, it would be good to show on the model that the outer  
layer around the core of planets and large asteroids is called the  
mantle and is made of rock.  Essentially what you have done is set up  
the explanation for why we have different types of meteorites.  You  
can then show them stone meteorites and ask them where they would come  
from...the core or the mantle (mantle).  And you could show them an  
iron and ask where they think it would have come from (core).   
Finally, to challenge them to think critically, show them a stony iron  
pallasite and explain that it is a mixture of rock and metal...where  
do they think that it would have come from? (here's where great  
dialogue from the kids will (hopefully) come in.  Praise wrong answers  
with appreciation for their effort....perhaps you can redirect them to  
the right answer by responding to their answer with a question.

Anyway...I hope this helps.

Matt Martin, IMCA #4238
Meteorite Treasures
www.MeteoriteTreasures.com
P.O. Box 154, Kaaawa, HI 96730





Original Message:


I posted this to the list earlier today but for some reason, hasn't  
come through.  apologies if turns out to be a double post . . .  seems  
to be the season for school presentations.


Dear List,
In early January I'm going to be giving a presentation to two second  
grade classes about meteorites.  Anyone out there who has any  
experience or suggestions on how I should do this with this age group  
[7/8] that you'd be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.   
Please reply off list. Thanks in advance.  Take care
Susan Patton