GLASS STORIES The History of Glass Sludge McGrugal Choose your own ending!

A story about the history of glass

The year was 0001 AD and in the ancient kingdom of Phoenicia, a woman was cooking a fish dinner for her clan over an open fire. She was cooking their meal on a new cooking rock that her son had carved for her just yesterday. He was waiting impatiently just outside of the cooking tent for his mother to present the meal. He was excited to taste the first meal from this new rock.

In just a few moments his mother emerged from the tent with the fish and the feast began. It was the most delicious meal that anyone had ever had and they all praised the young boy for his excellent handy work. The boy was very proud of his rock.

For several days the clan had some of the best meals they had ever had.

One day, after dinner, it was the boy's turn to wash up from dinner so he and his sister went to the cook-tent to collect the rock. When they walked into the tent, the fire had gone out and there was only the glow of the moon to guide them in the tent. The girl bent down to pick up the rock, and just as she did, something caught her eye. Something lying on the sand just below the cooking rock sparkled in the moonlight like the water on the ocean. What was it?

The boy carefully picked up the object. He held it up to his face and was amazed that he was able to see right through it. It was a rock, he thought ...at least it was hard like a rock, but it was clear!

The children ran from the tent with their discovery. « What could it be? » they wondered.

If you said « GLASS » you are right on! Here's what probably happened:

The sand that the family built their cooking tent on was probably obsidian...natural glass! The cooking rock that the boy made was probably made from natron, a mineral that is found in that area. When the natron rock rubbed against the obsidian sand in the heat of the fire, a small amount of glass was produced.

History recorded by Pliny, a famous Roman naturalist, actually credits sailors who landed on Phonecian shores as the ones who discovered natural glass. Glass making was credited to potters in Mesopotamia. Check out how we make glass today!

Quizz Questions for Kids: (click question to get the answer)

Where is Phonecia?

What is it called today?

Mother Nature makes her own glass, just not into bottles or jars.
What is this glass called?

What colour is obsidian?

Could you make glass?

What part of nature is so hot that it could produce enough heat to make glass?.