Science Projects About Rocks for Elementary Kids
Science projects that explore rocks aid students in understanding the natural world around them. Changes in climate, environment, weather, water and humans affect rocks. Because rocks aid in forming the earth, as well as sustaining it, learning about rocks through science is beneficial at all grade levels.
Hardest Rocks
Students must begin their study of rocks by learning to identify them by their types. Once this is accomplished, students can then explore the strength of the types through experimentation. One method of accomplishing this task is for students to gather a variety of rock types and test them by tapping the surface of each rock with a hammer. The student must use equal force on each of the rocks and increase the level of force used three or four times. The student should hypothesize about which rocks will break the easiest before the experiment begins and compare his hypothesis with the actual results.
Rocks as Sponges
Rocks appear to be solid but have pores that absorb water. Students can discover this fact by participating in science experiments that demonstrate the sponge-like ability of rocks. In order to accomplish this, the students should use plastic containers filled with water and place rocks in the containers. As the students check the containers at predetermined intervals, it will become apparent that less liquid exists in the container because the rock has absorbed it. Students can prove this fact by weighing the rocks prior to the start of the experiment and then at each opportunity to examine the containers.
Frozen Rocks
In nature, climate changes affect rocks on a consistent basis. Freezing, for example, causes rocks to erode. Students can explore this fact by collecting, weighing and measuring rocks for the project. Students will be using plastic bottles filled with water, placing rocks in the bottles, securing the bottle caps and putting the bottles in the freezer for predetermined periods. The more bottles used, the more the students will be capable of discovering what impact ice has on rocks over an extended period. As students remove the bottles from the freezer and thaw them, they can measure and weigh the rocks to determine if erosion has occurred and to what extent.
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