Five things kids will love at the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase
According to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society website, approximately 3,000 elementary school students explore the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show each year.Β
By Gloria Knott, Special to the Arizona Daily Star
The first things kids will love
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The Gem and Mineral Show started 63 years ago. It has something for everyone, including a Junior Education Section for children.
According to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society website, approximately 3,000 elementary school students explore the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show each year. The show features a Junior Education area where University of Arizona Society of Earth Science students teach the children and answer buzzing questions. This area offers fossil identification, a volcano experiment, an earthquake demonstration, and a mineral treasure hunt. When the kids leave, they get to take home an egg carton of minerals. The Junior Education area is Feb. 9-11 at the TCC. Times vary.
The second thing kids will love
UpdatedDinosaur fossils are showcased at many of the shows. If your kiddo is a future paleontologist or a really big fan of Jurassic Park, the dinosaur fossils are a must-see.
The third thing kids will love
UpdatedYou can even find fossilized dinosaur poop. Yes, you read that correctly. What more could a kid ask for? Visit the Kings Of Coprolite booth at the 22nd Street Mineral & Fossil Show.
The fourth thing kids will love
UpdatedSome vendors will let kids crack open a geode. Kids are bound to be amazed by the sparkling colors inside.
The fifth thing kids will love
UpdatedA few shows have vendors that feature meteorites. Use it as an opportunity to teach the kids about space.
If you go
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Melis Cohen looks over the strands of crystals sheβs buying from the booth run by Queenly Global Trading, Richardson, Texas, during the JOGS Gem & Jewelry Show at the Tucson Expo Center in Tucson, Ariz. The JOGS show, featuring about 200 exhibitors, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday.
Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase
When: Saturday, Jan. 27βSunday, Feb. 11. Individual shows have different dates and times.
Where: All over Tucson. Visit xpopress.com or visittucson.org for more details.
Et Cetera: Downloadable guide at visittucson.org/gem-show-app
2018 Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase map
UpdatedClick the icons for more information. Click the window icon on the upper right of the map for a larger version.
