Have students separate rocks by size, color and smoothness.
While kindergartners are a bit young to be calculating differences in elevation on a topographic map and reporting detailed rock-identifying information like cleavage and hardness, you can certainly introduce the fundamental concepts of the area with engaging, hands-on activities that, first and foremost, instill an enthusiasm for learning about the earth -- a prerequisite for a lifelong love of learning about and caring for the earth.
Rock Collecting
Young children typically have a fascination with rocks. Use that enthusiasm to teach a lesson about where rocks come from and the most basic types of rocks. Give students an introductory lesson on rocks, then have them bring in two or three different rocks from around their homes. You can also take them outside and send them on a scavenger hunt to search for specific types of rocks. Have the class write a story about their different rocks, including their origins and physical descriptions.
Sorting It Out
To extend on your rock collecting lessons, teach students about basic differences between rocks. Have each student group a variety of rocks together, or do it as a class. Discuss color, roughness, size, weight and whether the rock is "sparkly" or iridescent. Do a similar activity with types of soil. Give students the opportunity to feel and study sand, loam and clay soils. Study how fast water drains down each type of soil and what happens if you mix two or more parts of soil together.
Lessons on the Earth's Layers
Introduce kindergarteners to the four layers of the earth with an edible treat. Have kids pour crushed granola or ground nuts -- if you're positive no one has an allergy -- into a bowl. Add mashed banana and a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup or mashed dates to the bowl. Mix it to form a crust on the bottom. Place one flavor of gelatin or pudding on either side of the bowl, then a second flavor and a third flavor in the center. The center flavor represents the earth's hot core, and the other two flavors are the outer core and the mantle.
Earth Conservation
Students are never too young to learn about conserving the earth they're studying. Teach about soil leaching and why pollution can find its way into the water supply by helping students build a miniature soil bed with different layers above a pool of water. Observe and record what happens to the liquids that seep down into the soil and whether they leach into the water supply. Give a lesson on healthy soil by raising earthworms in a small jar to illustrate how the creatures break down leaves and other organic material, aerate the soil by squirming around and add nutrients back into the soil.
Tags: different rocks, Give students, into soil, into water, into water supply
