First attempt at the Star Cluster timeline simulation

I was trying to find a way to make the discussion regarding star clusters and their age more interactive. I got the idea of using marbles initially, but quickly switched over to pony beads which have the appropriate color due to surface temperature. Using a few quick references online, I determined when each type of star would show up in the timeline as a main sequence star, a red giant star, a white dwarf, or some other end product. I made stat sheets for each stellar type and allow the students to choose two different colored beads representing two different color stars. I displayed elapsed time information using small time increments initially, and progressively increasing the intervals exponentially as we continued. The students kept track of the evolution of their two stars and exchanged out their beads for red pom poms representing the red giant phase, etc. It was fairly interactive, and the students were able to see the changes before their eyes on the document camera in the classroom. For future reference, it could be better if each star could automatically evolve as an automaton,  but this would no longer be as interactive with the students in class. One student recommended balloons instead of beads. I’ll have to brainstorm this further to see if I can refine this simulation.