does this sound right for what happens with the zinc and lead nitrate reaction? could i add anything else?

The zinc displaces the lead. You can observe the lead preipitating on the zinc surface. The zinc changes to black crystals which dissolve in the water and there are lead crystals.

i hav a feeling that some of my answer is jumbled up. please correct me and give a more reasonable answer which is basic and not too complicated because I do not understand the 'precipitating' bit.

What you have written sounds ok except for the Zn changing to black crystals. The Pb is plating out on the surface of the Zn and that is the reason for the change of color. The Zn isn't changing color. Here is an answer I gave in some detail to the same question that may help.

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1245515913

colour less lead nitrate crystals are heated

The zinc and lead nitrate reaction correctly involves zinc displacing lead from lead nitrate. However, some parts of your answer are a bit jumbled and can be clarified. Here's a simpler and clearer explanation:

During the reaction between zinc and lead nitrate, the zinc atoms react with the lead nitrate ions, causing the lead to be displaced. As a result, you can observe the formation of lead crystals on the surface of the zinc. These lead crystals may appear as small, solid particles.

In addition, the zinc itself undergoes a chemical change. It forms black-colored crystals. These crystals are not insoluble, meaning that they can dissolve in the surrounding water. So, it is correct to say that the black zinc crystals dissolve in water.

To summarize, in the zinc and lead nitrate reaction, lead is displaced from lead nitrate by zinc, leading to the formation of lead crystals on the zinc surface. The zinc also undergoes a chemical change and forms black crystals that can dissolve in water.