Second Grade

 
An audience of a couple of hundred on the Queen Mary 2? A few flutters of nervousness. The Gottingen Literary Festival? Despite giving an introduction in German to an illustrious group, merely a tangible increase in adrenalin. I have to admit that I enjoy giving talks and, having done so many, the days of the fear of public speaking are long gone. But when a neighbourhood friend in suburban Philadelphia asked if I could come in and talk to her second grade class, stage fright would be an understatement; rather I felt a gathering sensation of something verging on terror.

But I needn’t have worried. Kids of that age are curiosity engines, their enthusiasm infectious, and it was a totally memorable experience. I was, of course, helped by the fact that my topic was one immediately accessible to kids, and that they had already done some investigation of sand. Add to that the imagery that sand has to offer and the wonderful fact that every classroom seems now to equipped for Powerpoint, and the time flew by. I was also set at ease – and surprised – by first having to autograph everything and anything that was available, mostly the kids’ workbooks, but it was the first time that I had signed a glasses case.

The enjoyable memories of the occasion were wonderfully enhanced by the fact that the teacher had all the kids write up and illustrate what they had learned – and then presented me with the results. A real treasure! And so this post is essentially written and illustrated by these kids. In the header above, I believe that the picture on the left is of the event itself – me, the class, and Powerpoint. Here’s a photo of the reality (scary, huh?):

 
I am amazed by what these kids took in, and how they illustrated and wrote about it.

The diversity of sands, the critters that live in sand – and erosion! And they really took to my recommendation of always taking a magnifying glass to the beach.

 

And the idea that, between the sand grains of a beach, is a miniature zoo seems to have struck a chord:

I will simply select some quotes from the written reports – I couldn’t possibly include everything, so my apologies to anyone whose work does not appear; note, by the way, the interest in the physics of granular materials:

The guy that taught us about sand is Mr. Welland

Sand is an interesting thing to learn about. And that is what Mr. Welland told me.

Sand is made out of really tiny rocks. Sand just looks brown. But it is really not. If you look up close you can see beautiful shiny and different colored rocks.

Sand is great, it feels so smooth but really it’s tiny bits of rock...I love sand and I never leave the house without a magnifying glass... There are also bugs, insects, and creatures.

A lot of things live in sand.

Sand might act like a liquid but it is a solid. That’s why sand is awesome.

I learned that storms and stuff break rocks and turn into sand. I learned that in Hawaii there is black sand. I learned that there is red and pink sand.

I learned that sand is made out of shells and rocks...desert sand is made out of little balls. Sand is fun to play in.

p.s. Make sure you have a magnifying glass with you when you go to the beach.

Some sand is shells and the sand breaks up into pieces and it makes sand. Sand is interesting to learn about. Animals live in sand.

I learned that there are no two sand pieces alike. The sea crashes against the rocks and makes tiny pieces.

Sand is tiny tiny rocks but it is weird because it is like a solid and a liquid. Little bugs live in the sand. They cleaned up the dirt.

Waves wash on rocks and small pieces fall off the rock. The small shells of small creatures can be sand too, when the creatures die. But is sand a liquid or a solid? That is still a mystery.

Never leave the house without a magnifying glass if you are looking at sand. Sand will not stick without water... I learned a lot from Mr. Welland. I like sand.

And as I was getting ready to leave, one question threw me: “I thought that sand was a kind of polymer?” Second grade?

So many many thanks to this class – you were brilliant and I enjoyed myself enormously – I look forward to coming back!

 

[Note that the photograph of the class is published here with permission – I had originally blurred individual faces, but I was pleased to be told that this was not necessary.]

 

 

 

Comments

[John]

those should be the quotes forany new editition of your book...

[Sandglass]

I didn't think of that! So thanks, and here's to the next edition...

[Telonius]

It's great to start looking at the world with children's eyes again. We got a son who is 6 months now. We are so amazed as he watches and grabs all the little things that we are accustomed and nearly bored for years: spoons, clothespins, computer mice ;-) Looking forward to taking the magnifying glass to the sand-box and to discover rocks!