| My long-time enjoyment of earth science, especially | | | | the topic was fossils, I didnt give any clues as to the |
| when it included fossil activities, had me doing earth | | | | contents of the bags. |
| science activities for kids from the time my own | | | | Instantly the air was filled comments: Its round! Mine is |
| children were little ones. So when my middle school | | | | like a cylinder. Mines got ridges. |
| asked me to pick something to teach for six weeks | | | | Then speculation and conjecture: I think this is that |
| that I just enjoyed, this was the first thing that came to | | | | animal that looks like a clam. I think this could be a |
| mind. It was set up to be more like a club than a class, | | | | tooth. I know; its a snail! |
| so while there were definitely learning goals, the most | | | | I had the students pass their bags to the next student |
| important goal was to have fun and enjoy ourselves. I | | | | and compare observations and guesses. Eventually |
| knew I should include fossil activities in my lesson plans. | | | | they were begging me to open the bags. |
| There had to be a lot of hands-on kids' activities with | | | | But before we did, I asked them to tell me what they |
| an emphasis on fun. | | | | knew about ancient sea life. There were lots of |
| When I got my class list, I saw immediately that I would | | | | pictures in their minds; some were accurate. Then I |
| need to do some revisions in my plans: I had a small | | | | asked them to imagine which of those species might |
| class, but it included several students with learning | | | | have left fossil remains. We talked about how fossils |
| disabilities and behavioral problems. These were not | | | | are formed. |
| going to be internally motivated kids. I knew that my | | | | Finally, as a last observation, I asked the students to |
| most important class would be the first one. I needed | | | | guess at the animal contained in their bag, by either |
| an earth science activity that would get the students | | | | name or species. When fossil was finally revealed |
| hooked on the subject right away. | | | | more questions, especially about identification and |
| I had seen an activity with younger students called the | | | | behavior, waited to be answered. |
| magic bag. It capitalized on the unknown and their | | | | If this had been a research class, there would have |
| natural curiosity. But these were middle school | | | | been more than enough curiosity to compel these |
| students-and some tough ones at that! I knew Id have | | | | students on to further study. In this class, our next |
| to have a pretty solid subject area-something that | | | | activity was to do a real fossil dig, with real fossils. The |
| could intrigue and impress. | | | | magic bag earth science activity had the students |
| I placed a small fossil in enough velvet bags for each | | | | thinking, talking and ready for more fossil activities. |
| student to have his/her own. Before handing them to | | | | As kids activities go, The Magic Bag is at the top of |
| the students, I asked them to explore the contents of | | | | the list for ease of use and enthusiastic student |
| the bag without opening it. Since the students knew | | | | involvement. |