Five things kids will love at the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase

According to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society website, approximately 3,000 elementary school students explore the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show each year. The show features a Junior Education area where University of Arizona Society of Earth Science students teach the children and answer buzzing questions. This area offers fossil identification, a volcano experiment, an earthquake demonstration, and a mineral treasure hunt. When the kids leave, they get to take home an egg carton of minerals. The Junior Education area is Feb. 9-11 at the TCC. Times vary.

Dinosaur fossils are showcased at many of the shows. If your kiddo is a future paleontologist or a really big fan of Jurassic Park, the dinosaur fossils are a must-see.

You can even find fossilized dinosaur poop. Yes, you read that correctly. What more could a kid ask for? Visit the Kings Of Coprolite booth at the 22nd Street Mineral & Fossil Show.

Some vendors will let kids crack open a geode. Kids are bound to be amazed by the sparkling colors inside.

A few shows have vendors that feature meteorites. Use it as an opportunity to teach the kids about space.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase

When: Saturday, Jan. 27—Sunday, Feb. 11. Individual shows have different dates and times.

Where: All over Tucson. Visit xpopress.com or visittucson.org for more details.

Et Cetera: Downloadable guide at visittucson.org/gem-show-app