Any advice for giving a "talk" to a grade 1 class?

[Red_Baron]

Any advice?
I'm a Geologist at a copper mine in Princeton, B.C. and I'm giving a talk about rocks to the grade 1's. My plan is to bring in some shiny copper-bearing rocks and some other samples with brightly colored minerals and other ones that have a neat appearance and go from there.
Am I correct in remembering that Grade 1 is essentially when most kids learn to read and write? The biggest problem is that I have a tendency to be over-technical with adults so I'll have to chose my words carefully. I do have a sample for each kid to take home as well.
Any one teach any of the early grade classes?

[Locke]

This is your opportunity to break out some of those classic fart jokes.

Fart jokes are a real hit with that demographic.

[Ducay]

Most helpful thing I ever learned about geology in elementary was a song about the different types of rock

Something along this vein, but for young kids.




Oh, and lots of things for them to see and touch, grade 1'ers will love you if you pass around shiny things for them to see.

[socktape]

Bring in pictures of the mining equipment. What kid doesn't like big machinery.

[Red_Baron]

Originally Posted by socktape

Bring in pictures of the mining equipment. What kid doesn't like big machinery.

That's not a bad idea...I'll definitely bring some pics.

[burn_this_city]

[scotty2hotty]

Tell them not to take you for granite.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Talk to them like they are 4. Sensationalize the story. Do you blow things up? Are there pretty colours? Can something you use squish a car or a bus? Use examples a lot.

I know for a fact grade one kids don't trust whitey, and tend to lean to the extreme violence if your boring them or wasting their time. Keep this in mind.

[North East Goon]

Shiny rocks and cool coloured one's still intrigue me, and I am 35!

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Tell them not to take you for granite.

Of quartz you would say something like this.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by alltherage

Of quartz you would say something like this.

Gneiss joke bro!

[CaptainCrunch]

Miss Schlowski: Your teacher, Miss O'Hara, had to go somewhere.
Dominic: Where'd she go?
Miss Schlowski: That doesn't matter.
Lowell: Did she die?
Miss Schlowski: No, Lowell, she went to see someone.
Lowell: Did they die?
Miss Schlowski: *No*, Lowell.
Lowell: Everyone dies, you know.

[scotty2hotty]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Gneiss joke bro!

Sedimentary, my dear Watson!

[redforever]

Show them what you can make of the copper and various other items you bring in.

So for copper, bring in wire, jewellery, pots and pans, whatever. They won't understand the word association of just telling them you can make this from that, mining is pretty technical for those age kids, but they will easily understand with pictorial examples.

[Red_Baron]

Originally Posted by alltherage

Of quartz you would say something like this.

...or something like here is a Gneiss piece of schist...

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Sedimentary, my dear Watson!

I can't help but marble at your creativity!

[flamesfever]

Just spoke to my wife who taught grades 1 and 2 for 20 years.

- you need to find a way to keep their attention and focussed on what you are saying. Their attention span at that age is minimal.

- don't give them the rocks until the end of your talk, or that's all they will be thinking about.

- get the kids to form a semi-circle, around you at the front of the room, sitting on the floor. You should be at approximate eye level.

- use one or more simple diagrams that you can speak to eg. a cross-section of the mine, etc.

- keep it short and simple.

- you could ask them if they have any questions at the end of your talk.

- it would probably help if you gave them a cloth sample bag to put the rock in.

As a geologist, I used to take cubs to Drumheller to collect dinasaur bones back in the 70's. On one trip they filled up over 100 sample bags.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

...or something like here is a Gneiss piece of schist...

I already made the Gneiss joke buddy, move along!

[Red_Baron]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Just spoke to my wife who taught grades 1 and 2 for 20 years.

- you need to find a way to keep their attention and focussed on what you are saying. Their attention span at that age is minimal.

- don't give them the rocks until the end of your talk, or that's all they will be thinking about.

- get the kids to form a semi-circle, around you at the front of the room, sitting on the floor. You should be at approximate eye level.

- use one or more simple diagrams that you can speak to eg. a cross-section of the mine, etc.

- keep it short and simple.

- you could ask them if they have any questions at the end of your talk.

- it would probably help if you gave them a cloth sample bag to put the rock in.

As a geologist, I used to take cubs to Drumheller to collect dinasaur bones back in the 70's. On one trip they filled up over 100 sample bags.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.

That is excellent!
Thank you Sir!

[KelVarnsen]

Give em the sex talk.