Re: Really, anything that goes "boom" will do...jamiamApril 30 2006, 05:28:45 UTC
There is of course the stipulation that you somehow connect any hands-on demonstration to whatever it is that you're actually saying.
Me, I would go the anecdotal route: I would pick some larger theme (you are about to become adults now/you future is in your hands/your future is in God's hands/something something something something) and weave it around a personal anecdote. Ideally a personal anecdote which a.) illustrates how awesome astronomy is, b.) illustrates how your education got you to the point where you could appreciate that awesomeness, and c.) contains a strong, spectacularly slapstick element. Optionally, you may want to include d.) a semi-exotic location.
(Hee, if you weren't talking in a church, I would recommend borrowing Chris' exploding toilet story....)
Re: Really, anything that goes "boom" will do...jamiamMay 1 2006, 17:39:24 UTC
Sorry to blather at you. I'm sure you'll do something completely different, and it'll turn out better still! But it's funny: I know exactly what to say now, when I'm not under the hammer. If I were in your shoes, I'd have no idea. And I'd already be hyperventilating.
I'd better quick cut and paste what I wrote there, so I can look at it when that finally happens....
Oh, exploding toilet. Um. That one is really best told in person, you know?
Oh, you know the stars' lives demonstration? About how blue stars burn hot, bright and fast? And red stars burn slow and long? And you get some volunteers to jump up and down doing jumping jacks, and other volunteers to do a cool, easy hula dance? That generalizes easily to real life, and it'll keep people awake for 5 minutes. And you know for sure that it won't crack the marble...
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Me, I would go the anecdotal route: I would pick some larger theme (you are about to become adults now/you future is in your hands/your future is in God's hands/something something something something) and weave it around a personal anecdote. Ideally a personal anecdote which a.) illustrates how awesome astronomy is, b.) illustrates how your education got you to the point where you could appreciate that awesomeness, and c.) contains a strong, spectacularly slapstick element. Optionally, you may want to include d.) a semi-exotic location.
(Hee, if you weren't talking in a church, I would recommend borrowing Chris' exploding toilet story....)
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Exploding toilet story? (I know I should know that...)
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I'd better quick cut and paste what I wrote there, so I can look at it when that finally happens....
Oh, exploding toilet. Um. That one is really best told in person, you know?
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RJC
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