CRAFTS---ROCK CREATURES    

Children love be creative! Crafts that are designed and packaged so that they all look the same and use the same materials take away the fun of using the child's own imagination. 

When I present a craft project I will use a theme or a particular material or topic,  I  encourage the children to create their designs and use whatever materials they feel will enhance their own creation.

To start a project I will put all materials on the art table, give the kids a tray and tell them to pick whatever they want to work with.

CREATED BY 10 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

For the "rock creatures"  I go to a garden center and buy a bag of river rocks that are 2 to 5 inches. If you live in a rural area you can always ask the kids to bring a rock in. On my art table I will put paper, plastic, foam, and material scraps, eyes, pipe cleaners, wood shapes, yarn scraps, straws, pom poms, ribbons, and whatever else I have that might be used.  On the work tables I will place white glue for the kids to use and if they are older I will allow them to use glue guns.  Glue from the glue gun is quicker to dry and holds better than white glue which takes hours to dry. If the children are younger I will glue with the glue gun for the kids.

CREATED BY A 12 YEAR OLD

CREATED BY A 7 YEAR OLD

                                                                           

This craft is good for all ages and usually the kids take from one to two hours to complete the project.  I have used it in my kindergarten class to the summer camp I am teaching with kids ranging from 7 to 12.  All approach the project with the same enthusiasm and have sooo much excitement and fun.  

SCIENCE PROGRAMS WITH MISS GAIL

gailfinds@gmail.com

 

1.  ROCKS AND MINERALS

A.    How do rocks form?

B.    How do rocks get their color?

C.    How do we identify them?

I will have the following sample rocks and minerals:

-         various quartz crystal and solid quartz minerals from many different countries: amethyst, smoky quartz, citrine, and plain quartz crystals

-         solid colorful quartz such as Mexican lace, agates of all colors, cornelian, sodalite, adventurene

-         calcite crystals of all colors and types

-         metal minerals and their use

-         mica and its use as windows, and how the Indians made their tools from rocks

-         picture jasper and picture sandstone

The children will be able to touch and feel each rock or crystal.  At the end of the program each child will be given a colorful tumbled gemstone. The program will last 1 hour.

2.  FOSSILS

A.    How were different types of fossils formed?

B.    Where are fossils found?

C.    Ages of the different fossils

D.   Fossils that can be found in our area

I will have examples of the following: 

-         fossils from the sea: shell, clam, man of war shells, shell fossils from Wyoming, squid tail, shark teeth, different fish fossils, and other types of shells

-         plant fossils: different types of petrified wood and fern fossils from Pennsylvania

-         dinosaur bones in many forms

-         dinosaur dung

Fossilized dinosaur dung is always a hit, and the children have great fun handling it!

The program will last 1 hour and each child will be given a fossil as a remembrance.

3.  VOLCANIC ROCKS AND MINERALS

A.    What is a volcano?

B.    How is it formed?

C.    Where can we find active and sleeping volcanoes?

D.   What happens to an area when a volcano erupts?

 

I will have many types of volcanic rocks and minerals: different types of geodes, obsidians, volcanic lava, pumice, etc. I will show a model volcano and let the children take turns “blowing it up.” Each child will be given a volcanic stone. The program will last 1 hour.

 

The price for each program is $150.  If you would like more than one program on the same day it will be $75 additional for each. It is suggested that there be no more than 50 students at a program. If there are more, there will be a $50 charge to cover the cost of the stones offered.

I have been a teacher and lecturer for 40 years.  At present I am teaching enrichment classes, and have the children learn to “read and write for rocks.” After learning about rocks and minerals and getting excited by their beauty, the children will beg to read or write a paper for a rock to add to their collection. I give each child a box to use as their treasure chest.