Hi folks Apologies for cross-listings I attended the Visitor Studies conference this past summer in Washington D.C. and of course bought stuff for friends and family. I sent my 10 year old nephew a replica of the ammunition used in the Civil War and a map of the Washington D.C. area, hoping to spark an interest in this part of history. Nope, he became intrigued by the "powder" in the bag and had questions about what actually happened in the gun. What activities or books would you creative folks recommend I read or do with Brad to help him understand how guns work (outside of the boy's suggestion that we find a Civil War gun and try it out!) Since I'm such a constructivist and proponent of educational reform Brad always decides the direction of our investigations and I bring in stuff. After we finish with how guns and bullets work we might end up looking at other types of explosions (including gasoline engines in cars or the technology of other weapons or what happens to people when they are injured or who knows what. I just love the turns a child's mind takes, don't you? Linda Wilson Visitor Studies and Evaluation Shedd Aquarium, Chicago IL 312 362 3261 [log in to unmask]