Mary,

Rubbings are always popular especially with small children. Get lumber
crayons or the big fat kit crayons and take the paper off so they use them
sideways.

 Also, touch box. Hand goes into box through sleeve and visitor guesses what
they are feeling. (they can't see into box).

Quizzes are fun. 5 objects with 5 names, they have to match the 3-D objects
with card. Or have a tricky one. One object could be mistaken for a fossil,
but isn't really one. See if they catch on with the quiz. "one of these
items is not a fossil" type deal.

Bury sacrificial or fake "fossils" in plaster of Paris. Let kids hammer the
fossils out of the hard plaster. Maybe plywood on floor covered with a tarp
to protect surrounding area. They get to keep the fossil they find. (I've
never done this, just thought about it.)

Good luck! We are having a sea otter necropsy with hundreds coming today!!!
Good Luck! Catie

-----Original Message-----
From: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration-
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Parrish, Mary
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 6:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SCIART] Fossil Fest brainstorming

Dear Sciart,

My department is planning a Fossil Fest for February 10, 2007.  I'm going to
be organizing an illustration section and wonder if any of you have any
experience planning hands-on art activities for the general public?  I got a
few good ideas when I was chatting with people in Wisconsin at our annual
meeting, but am curious what ideas might be out there?

Thank you!

Mary Parrish
Department of Paleobiology
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution