Linda - Eyewitness Books puts out a great series for children that includes a book on Arms and Armor. The explanations are clear and to the point, and there are many full-color illustrations. You should be able to get it at your local bookstore. Deborah Bain Wilson, Linda wrote: > 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]