Teach about rocks with fun games.
Geology, or the study of the materials composing the Earth, include studies about rocks. Children can become intensely interested in rocks, and teaching basic geology should include fun games dealing with rocks. Take children outside to explore the rocks around them or keep them in and research layers of the Earth.
Find the Rocks
This game requires research from the teacher before the students embark on their journey. Map out areas with different rock content around the school, or plant rocks in certain areas. Draw a map from the classroom to the locations of the rocks. Depending on the age of the children you're teaching, identify the rocks on the map or ask the students to identify the rocks once they find them following the map.
Create Earth's Layers
Use play dough to make a real-life representation of the layers of the Earth. The layers are the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. Use the representation to talk about where rocks are found and what types of rocks are in each layer. This model will be created at the beginning of the unit and be used as a model throughout the duration of the unit.
Word Search Competition
Use geological terminology for the week's spelling list. Print out geology-based word search puzzles for the class. Time the students together to find each word in the puzzle and give prizes for the fastest searchers. This activity solidifies rock vocabulary and reinforces learned spelling terms.
Make Rock Candy
Boiled water mixed with sugar will help create rock candy. The students can watch rock candy form, recording the daily progress. The formation will be correlated to the stalactites that hang from caves and how they form over thousands of years. Pour the boiled sugar water into jars where a string hangs freely from a pencil. The water will form to the string and the students can eat the experiment at the end.
Tags: identify rocks, layers Earth, rock candy
