Hi all As I age, I am working on talks and the co-responding displays to donate my collections to be used while I can for talks to curious people who come to the natural history society where I volunteer. After i'm gone, having written out the talk and picture power point and with the actual fossils, these talks could go on. Also hopefully made available to teachers. Anyway, I am struggling with finding an intriguing story lines for a talk on Brachiopods and Bivalves. For example in my cephalopod talk, the story line is how they overcame the problem of buoyancy. So i am asking for your thoughts for something similar on this topic.
Also ask for your recommendations for specimens to include. I'm looking for ones that grab people's attention for beauty, ugliness etc. I have id'ed: spirifers (pyritized), lamp shells, Ruck's pit Mercenaria, Cucullaea (Giant clam), Panopea, Cretaceous oyster Exogyra, Inoceramus, Spondylus, Arca hinge teeth and markings. There are some weirdly beautiful rudists from Texas (would anyone be willing to donate to the cause?) Hopefully this gives you some idea what I am trying to do-specimens that each have their own special story to catch people curiosity and interest to promote their interest in learning. And if possible, an overarching story line that unites brachiopods or unites bivalves.
Appreciate everyone's thought and comments. Thanks