God Rocks!

DO YOU collect rocks? Where has each rock come from? If rocks could talk, what story would each one tell?

Although rocks do not talk, they can tell us many things. Geologists study rocks to trace the earth's history and to find out what’s in them. Diamonds are found in Africa in a rock called peridotite; emeralds are found in limestone in Colombia. Rocks collected from the moon are mostly made of minerals.

Fossils found in rocks give us information about extinct plants and animals, like the woolly mammoth found in Alaska. Fossils of early plants and primitive life forms can be seen in rocks at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature and in Manitoba Legislative Building's walls.

In the past people used rocks to communicate. Ancient Egyptians carved records of important events onto temple walls and large slabs of stone called stelae. The oldest record of history is found on a stela called the Palermo Stone.

Early North American Indians painted pictures on rocks of animals they hunted. In the far north, Eskimo make rock piles with arms that point the way back to camp. These Inukshuk mark the path for hunters to take.

In Plymouth, Massachusetts, a rock commemorates the first arrivals to the U.S. from England in 1620. Called Plymouth Rock, it is in a shelter for everyone to see, but once it was an ordinary rock people climbed over to get to shore.

In the Old Testament, too, rocks were used as markers and to communicate. Remember how the Ten Commandments were first given to Israel? They were written by God on tablets of stone (Exodus 34:28).

Jacob marked the spot where he wrestled with the angel as the place where God promised to be with him and bless him. He set a stone as a marker where God changed his name from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 28:12-18 and 35:14). Joshua helped the people of Israel promise, or covenant, to serve God and he marked with a stone where this agreement took place (Joshua 24:26-27).

David says that God is his Rock--his protector in times of trouble (Psalm 18:2). In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus tells of a wise man who built his house on a rock. Jesus says that if we follow what He says to us, we are building on a rock. That rock is Jesus.

Try balloon printing. It's fun!

You will need:
• empty aluminum pie plates (one for each colour)
• newspaper to protect your work surface
• art paper
• liquid paint (mixed tempera powder paint)
• balloons (one for each colour)

Steps to follow
1. Spread newspaper over your work area. Put one colour of paint into each pie plate.

2. Blow up one balloon for each colour, but not too big. Put one balloon in each pie plate with the end tied up. The tied-up end makes a good handle.

3. Dab one paint-covered balloon onto art paper several times.

4. Continue making balloon prints with each colour. Remember to return each balloon to its own colour plate each time.

5. Experiment as you work: slide the paint-covered balloon across your paper; press the paint-covered balloon onto the paper, then give it a sharp twist before you lift it off; dab the balloon into two different colours, then print; use other objects to make a variety of prints on one paper; add handprints or footprints to your masterpiece. Remember, this could be messy, but you will have fun!