Carol,
        Have you tried the Sanibel Museum?  They make up kits of shells and
curricula that they sell cheaply to schools.  I do this with teachers in
Humboldt Co., California as a suggestion, whenI give "Volunteer talks on
shells" in the county elementary schools.  The kits are well made and the
shells come from collections that have been donated to the museum.  Most
natural History Museums receive collections of shell materials and find
that they can only use a part.  What to do with the rest?  I have often
seen boxes of shells sitting in storage with old tags.  The museums don't
know what to do with them.  Write and ask if they have unwanted material
ffor your project.
        Also, shell dealers often have shells with small imperfections that
they have to discard.  have them discard them your way.  Check with Paul
Monfils at the following e-mail addresses: [log in to unmask] (or)
[log in to unmask]
        Paul has an import shop of shells and at times offer shells to
teachers or others that work with kids.  He's a great, warm-hearted guy.
Check it out.
Good luck on your project.  Let us at Conch-L know what you're doing.
Dan
 
 
>
>>My name is Carol..I am a secondary Honors Biology instructor that uses my
>>shell collection to teach my students everything there is to know about
>>taxonomy and classification, to Molluscan anatomy and physiology.  You
>>understand-basically everything you are afraid to ask and more! I am now
>>sharing these methods with a few other teachers who are trying to build
>>collections so that they may start this introduction into scientific
>>principles, and the making of future Malacologists and Conchologists.  We
>are
>>located here in the desert of Las Vegas, and shelling doesn't seem to be an
>>activity that most of us have had an opportunity to do.  Many of these
>>students have never had any experience with "ocean life" of any kind.  We,
>>being desert rats, have not had the opportunity to gain an appreciation of
>the
>>beauty and scientific value of Mollusca.  This is something that I would
>like
>>to remedy.  I am writing to ask where a good resource might be to start
>some
>>teacher collections.  Our resources are often limited and any outside help
>is
>>always appreciated.  Is there a society that we could possibly write to?
>Any
>>ideas? I have created curriculum that encompasses shell classification
>through
>>dissection, I would be more than willing to put together curriculum for any
>>organization if that would be appropriate.  Thank you for your time.  Carol
>>
>>Carol Adamson, Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave., Las Vegas, NV  89102
>
>Bill Frank
>1865 Debutante Dr.
>Jacksonville, FL 32246-8645
>Phone/FAX: (904) 724-5326
>[log in to unmask]
>[log in to unmask]
>[log in to unmask]
>[log in to unmask]
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
>http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm
 
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Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
1164 Vista Dr.
Eureka, California
        95503-6018
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