Michigan Rocks

Recently, we packed up our things and headed up to Michigan.  I originally had hoped to go to the Upper Peninsula to look for a type of rock that is called syenite or Yooperlite's as they are commonly called in Michigan.  Syenite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock formed when molten lava cooled slowly under the Earth’s surface. It has a general composition like granite. Not all syenite glows in the dark.  These particular rocks were probably formed in Lake Algonquin Ontario and washed up on the shores of Lake Superior many years later due to glacial activity.  

Fluorescence is light that is absorbed in the UV spectrum which can not be seen with the naked eye.  The rocks absorb this light and then emit it in a longer wavelength. The electrons in the rocks get "excited" by the UV light.  This scrambling of electrons releases light waves in the visible spectrum.  "Yooperlites react at about 395nm so if you go to look for them find a UV light that display in this range.  The Convoy C8 + 365 nm UV LED Flashlight is a good one.  

You can also use your handy UV Flashlight to detect cat urine!!  I used it in the bathroom and found all kinds of interesting creatures...

We did find a few Petoskey stones near Travers City.  That was fun (but cold). 

I'm Never Gonna Die Part 2

I am obsessed with glowing rocks.  Its another addiction along with the others (lizards, rabbits, coffee, antlions, toads, kids, HIS presence, joy...) The list keeps growing of things to explore and discover thus I will most likely never die.  

Here is part two of the bucket list!!! 

Yooperlite Rocks.  If you are from Michigan like I am you will know instantly what a Yooper is.  My brother-in-law Gary, is a Yooper. 

Yooper's say weird things like "ish" and tell Onei and Ano jokes (ask a Yooper).  They are definitely unique ancestors of a "Fin" or a "Swede".  I love these people.  They are hearty and resilient just like these glowing rocks.

At the last rock lab in December, one of my all star parents, Eric Anonsen, 

introduced me to the latest addiction.  He showed me this video and I was hooked!  

So this summer I am packing up as many grandchildren as my kids will allow to kidnap and we are heading to Lake Superior to find some of these beauties.  I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes!

Part #1 I'm Never Gonna Die (because my bucket list keeps getting longer)

Recently, I decided to write a blog post entitled, "I'm Never Gonna Die" (because my bucket list just keeps getting longer)" 

While preparing for the Fossil Lab, I stumbled upon some information about fossil collecting on the Peace River in Florida. Here is a sneak peak of one of the first of 17 items on my list with more on the way.

I've been to Florida many times but never knew about the Peace River. Even though Florida has many rivers, the Peace River in the southwestern part of the state has gained extra popularity with fossil hunters due to the abundance of quality specimens that can be recovered. This river has fine species of camel, mastodon, shark teeth, mouth plates and plenty more. Many fossil hunters use kayaks and canoes while others simply wade in the water, use a shovel or a trowel.

For one to hunt fossils in Florida, it is mandatory to have a fossil hunting permit and recognize the legal guidelines before you begin your hunt. Springtime is normally the best time to hunt fossils. March, April, and May are the low water level times of the year. For the best fossil hunting, water levels should be at least a little bit below normal levels. During sunny days, you may effortlessly see the bottom better; however this may not be suitable all times. At certain times when the water is clear and the days are sunny, you can use a snorkel and recover some good finds.

We go on a family reunion trip once every year thanks to science lab earnings. We pack up our five children and six grandchildren to just hang out and be together. Last July we headed to Gatlinburg and rented a beautiful VRBO cabin in the mountains. Look who decided to join us at our cabin!

Exploring the Peace River in Florida might just be a good one for our next family adventure!

I just hope the alligators don't decide to join us...

South Carolina Rocks

What do cat litter, paper, pots and pans, and soil additives have to do with the December Rock Lab? Plenty! Read on to find out why...
This year in the Rock Lab we decided to learn about the wonderful rocks our state has to offer. I ordered a box of rocks from the South Carolina Geological Survey. The box comes with about 20 rocks and a booklet describing the rocks. Here are some interesting facts we found out about some of the rocks in the box.South Carolina is the #1 supplier of vermiculite. I grew up with vermiculite... My dad used "tons" of it in his greenhouse to use in mixing up his special soil. My dad is a master of mixing the best soil there is for his plants. He has his own secret blend of ingredients and his plants grow amazingly well. Vermiculite can expand up to 20 times it's size when water is added. This helps soil retain water for good root growth.

Hematite:Hematite is the principle ore of iron. Huge quantities are mined yearly for industrial production. It is the source for roughly 90 percent of all iron mined in the United States. Hematite was largely used in the past as a red and brown pigment, although nowadays cheaper sources have been substituted. Well formed Hematite crystals are popular among mineral collectors. Hematite also has gem uses. It is cut and polished into cabochons for jewelry and ornaments, fashioned into beads for bracelets and necklaces, and carved into ornamental figures. Indians in South Carolina used hematite to make tools and utensils.

Soapstone:
Soapstone is so called because it feels like a smooth and soothing bar of soap. Ten times softer than a diamond, it is still exceptionally dense, weighing a full 3 grams per cubic centimeter. Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits created by nature and quarried from the earth. The main mineral components in soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnesite, giving a warm, soft feeling to the touch. Soapstone has a long history in Asia, Egypt and Africa . In Africa , soapstone was used widely in arts and crafts as early as the 11 th century. After its first appearances in European art of the 1600s, soapstone is now widely used in the Western world, including as construction material.

Kaolin or White Gold:

At ultra-modern processing plants, a mixture of water and white clay dug out of the ground is turned into hundreds of products essential to modern life, such as rubber goods, plastics, medicine, toothpaste, insulation, porcelain and paints. Kaolin, which is about one-third of the total weight of paper makes the sheet white and smooth and enhances the color of the inks.

Numerous minor uses include pesticide and herbicide carriers, zeolite manufacture, catalyst supports, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Fullers Earth: Fuller's earth was mined in Sumpter County from 1975-1987 to produce kitty litter.

Hedgehog Rock: (Just kidding)

Students learned interesting facts about all the rocks in the box. We all agree that South Carolina rocks!

Science Rocks

December was a tough lab for me and my family. We hiked eight miles up hill both ways to the top of Charlie's Bunyan in the Smokey Mountains to collect rocks for students who attended the December Rock Lab.
Mitchell and Evan's Uncle, Game McGimsey, donated lots of items for us to use. Uncle Game is a Vulcanologist in Alaska. Students collected rocks from all three categories; sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Egg crates came in handy to store the loot!We looked at some rocks online with 3D glasses. I let students choose a rock from my personal collections. Then they had to identify it using rock books.



Every student received a Petosky Stone and began to polish it according to the directions.
Some students wanted to see their rocks up close under the microscope.Once again we borrowed a box from the US Polar Rock Repository. Students got to hold fossils from the South Pole. Of course there is always time for a few diversions like chasing a chinchilla under the table...

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Christmas is coming and I am a Christmas scrooge...

For me, Christmas holds memories of working late helping my immigrant parents work in the family business delivering flowers. The roads were frozen in Michigan and we worked until very late at night on Christmas Eve. Our family was too exhausted and tired to care or enjoy this most sacred of holidays. I am trying to reform myself but it takes time. Please be patient...


My husband and children tease and chide me over this most sensitive topic. Two years ago I was in the hospital during Christmas and it was so nice having a good excuse for evading my responsibilities! This year will be different. I am going to do all my shopping online EARLY! Presents will arrive at my door wrapped and ready to go with a click of the mouse attached to a vacuum pump sucking money from my bank account.

Some of you have asked me for advice regarding science related gifts for their children. I am by no means an expert on this topic but I do know what I like and what works for me. If any of you would like to add your favorites to this list, please write them on the comment link below so other parents can benefit from your expertise. Here are some things I would grab first if the house burned down:

Lortone Rock Tumbler

Rock tumblers can be a bit of a pain at times. These past few years I have destroyed several of them. For this reason, I am writing this article to save you the heart ache, the pain in your neck, and the trauma of stress related rock tumbler angst.

I started off with my rock tumblers running and spinning in the kitchen. My husband and children begged me to put them somewhere else. I took them to the laundry room. That was too close to my husbands office. He couldn't hear himself think.

We put the rock tumblers in the garage but with both cars in the garage there was not much room. Also, I didn't go in there a lot and did not keep up with the tumblers to see if they were still running.

So... they went to the back porch. That worked for me because I can see (and hear) them every time I come home reminding me to check on them and best of all they are not in the house! Now everyone is happy.

Here are the tumblers that did not work for me (a.k.a. they are at the dump or back at the store at this moment).

#1 This beauty from Hobby Lobby really disappointed me. I opened it up only to find out that it can hold just a few ounces of rocks at a time. Definitely not for me. If I'm going to go through all the trouble of polishing rocks I want to know that I can polish a bunch of them. I took it back without even trying it out. It should be called, "Tiny Pebble Tumbler" in stead of a Rock Tumbler...

#2 This Chicago Tumbler came from Harbor Freight. I love that store but their rock tumbler is not my favorite. I have burned up two of them... They look a lot like my favorite (keep reading) but the motor has a lot of plastic parts.

#3 This tumbler came from Big Lots. It was a good price but again, did not last. I love the space age design and the programing. I purchased two of them and they both went on the blink. The first one ditched after about a month. The second one died after about 5 months. I liked the space age type programing and the fact that it can hold a lot of rocks but, the fact remains that they both "spaced out" on me. Ok, next...

#4 This is the Lortone Tumbler my favorite and most dependable rock tumbler. I purchased it from the Dixie Rock Shop near Cherrydale. It cost me about $65.00 and is worth every penny. It has lasted about four years now and I use it for several months every year. I put lots of rocks in there for my students. It is "fairly" quiet.

So there you have it. Learn from my mistakes and don't think you can save money by purchasing a cheap rock tumbler. And oh, keep it far away from the kitchen!!

QX5 Microscope



The QX5 is an affordable way for students to capture, magnify, and modify microscopic images. Included activity guide, CD-ROM, and microscope slide set.

• Comes with a 188 page Curriculum Guide, complete with step-by-step operating instructions; 36 hands-on lab investigations for life, earth, and physical science; along with illustrated background information.
• Presentation and assessment software allows you and your students to use the images you capture to create and deliver custom presentations and computer-based assessments!
• Bright top and bottom illumination allows viewing of microscope slides or larger specimens like insects, wood, and small rocks
• Capture and manipulate high-resolution microscopic images and video clips on your Windows computer!

Now let me tell you how easy this microscope is to use. It is ridiculous. Even I can use it with very little effort. I shamefacedly must report to you that I and my students have knocked it to the ground more often than I care to admit. It keeps on humming. This is a great digital microscope and I don't know how I ever managed to get along without it. Be sure to check your computer's software to see if it is compatible with the QX5. It does not support Window's Vista.

Veho Microscope

Recently, Cody came into my classroom with two antlions that he found on the golf course. Much to his Dad's dismay, Cody was having more fun catching antlions than learning to play golf.

Now that's my kind of kid!

I ordered a new computer microscope and I think I am really going to like this one. It is a Veho VMS-004 Discovery Series 400x USB Microscope.

Here are some pictures of a Monarch Chrysalis that I took with the USB Microscope.



This is a really "kid friendly" microscope. It is sturdy and moderately priced. I am very happy that I found it. Amazon has it for a reasonable price. This computer microscope is compatible with Windows Vista and many other computer software programs. If you buy this for your child they will never step on an insect again, I guarantee it. The world is a different place under the lens of a microscope...

Ant Works

Students in the Space Lab had an opportunity to win a space age ant farm developed by NASA. AntWorks is based on a 2003 NASA Space Shuttle experiment to study animal life in space and test how ants successfully tunnel in microgravity.

I recently purchases one of these from Amazon for my grandson, Peter. He LOVES it! Those ants never stopped tunneling and moving. Every day is an adventure as the ants are constantly making new tunnels and connections.


I purchased the ants from Edmond Scientific. They came in a little tube.As soon as I released the ants, they began to get busy. Watch out; one got on my finger and bit it really hard! Make sure you drop the ants in the Antworks antfarm really quick. If you accidently let them loose in the house, run for th hills!



Wild Republic Audubon Bird Nest

I have used these birds with my K4 students and they LOVE them. This is a great way to increase auditory skills in children. I had 20 different birds and hid them in a box. When I squeezed the bird they recognized the sound and named the bird correctly. Hopefully, this will help your child listen to you when you tell them to clean their room. Well, maybe...

Butterfly Larva

We had a lot of rain this year and the butterflies couldn't get out long enough to lay many eggs in our Butterfly Garden. I had to purchase caterpillars for our Butterfly Labs. Shady Oak Butterfly Farm has very reasonable prices and shipped on the HOUR of the day they said the items would arrive. They also sell host and nectar plants. The website is very educational. I was very impressed with the quality of the larva as well as their great service over the phone. Also parents, you don't need to spend a lot of money on butterfly cages. Just go to your local discount store and purchase a fold up laundry hamper.

Flip it upside down and put your caterpillar in it for much less than the conventional butterfly cage.

Neodymium Magnet

Here's what Steve Spangler says about them: "Hey, these magnets are strong! Stick one in your pocket and accidentally walk by the refrigerator, and your family will find you stuck to the door! Just one of these magnets will hold a small phone book to a steel filing cabinet (the things we do when we're bored!). They can even detect traces of iron in an ordinary $1 bill. We need to remind you to keep these magnets away from your credit cards, computer disks, videotapes, small children and anything else of value. Recommended for children ages 8 and up."

This is me with Steve Spangler at the Atlanta Science Boot Camp

Neodymium magnets contain Iron and Boron, making them some of the strongest magnets in the world. You can find them at Steve Spangler Science and many other places on the web. I plan to climb up to my gutters and use them to find micrometeorites. The neighbors will really be talking about me now!

Last Child in the Woods

This is not a children's book but if you read it and let it change the way you think, your child will get the best Christmas present ever. My heart breaks for today's children who are shuffled from house to car to school to indoor sports and back home again, never to enjoy and experience the wonders of creation. I am on a mission to reform one parent at a time. Watch out parents, I'm coming for you!!!

From my familyto yours! Have a blessed Christmas.