Rocks and Minerals

We've been studying rocks and minerals. I tried to pull together a unit that would cover the Girl Scouts patch Rocks Rock and the cub scouts achievement Geologist.

To begin this unit study the kids started (or added to) rock collections. We worked on identifying some rocks by type (igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic) and also determined where they might fall on the hardness scale. We also examined the soil in our area.

We learned how rocks and minerals are used in building, in jewelry and other ways also rock use through history.

We discussed careers that have something to do with rocks and minerals.

We learned more about the weather and it's affect on the land. Volcanoes, earthquakes, other storms, erosion, freezing temps- frost heaves....

Looked online for aerial photos of the earth and landforms.

Draw pictures of volcanoes and label the parts

Researched the effect a volcanic eruption has on the surrounding area, people, plants, animals

Looked at various rocks under the microscope

Experiments included freezing bottles which were completely full of water to see the effects of freezing temperatures on the land (and roads). Making "fossil" imprints with plaster. Basically just made up a batch of plaster and the kids pressed leaves, rocks and such into the plaster, then let it dry. Removed the items when dry and notice the fossil like imprint.

Just for fun we made pet rocks.

Resources:

Videos:

Eyewitness Volcano

Eyewitness Rocks and Minerals

The videos were short, about 30 minutes each yet very good and full of information.

online

various including Google earth

Books

Junior Girl scout handbook

Webelos Cub scout handbook

Evan Moor Giant Science Resource book- earth science pages

DK Eyewitness Explorers Rocks and Minerals

DK Eyewitness books Rocks and Minerals

DK Eyewitness books Fossils

A Look Inside the Earth

Rock Collecting- Roma Gans

If You Find a Rock- Peggy Christian

There were a couple more about volcanoes and the earth but they've gone back to the library and the titles escape me.

Hayley, Colin, Tristan show off their fossils and pet rocks, Trevor didn't want to make a pet rock!