Students who study geology should have at least a few basic tools.
Geology, sometimes called Earth Science in school, can be a fun and interest-piquing class if students are given some hands-on education. If you plan on letting kids go out and get their hands dirty though, you have to make sure they have the proper geology tools for the job.
Gold-Prospecting Pan
One activity that can be a lot of fun for students is panning for gold. All you need is a small shovel, a containment bottle and most importantly, your gold-prospecting pan. These pans are relatively small, and they're usually made of plastic in a very dark color to contrast any specks of gold that might show up. The inside of the pan also has ridges that will stop flecks of gold from falling out while you're panning, but it won't stop larger pieces of dirt or clay from slipping right back into the river.
Rock Picks
More suited to older children, rock picks are miniature pick hammers that are used to gently pick and pry minerals out of stone. These hammers shouldn't be swung hard, but rather they should be used to gently chip and pry away stones. Rock picks (sometimes called rock hammers) are also used mostly in igneous and metamorphic rock. So, in order to get some use out of a rock pick, you'd likely have to go on a trip or have a large rock at your disposal. Always have kids wear safety gloves and glasses while using picks.
Hand Lens
A hand lens is similar to a magnifying glass, though its construction is different. A hand lens is a lens that rotates on an axis in and out of a protective metal case so that it isn't damaged or broken while in the field. A regular magnifying glass could be used instead, as long as you're very careful with it. You'll also need mineral samples and a variety of rocks for the kids to look at so they can see the stones in greater detail and understand the structure of the rocks they're viewing.
Tags: hand lens, magnifying glass, sometimes called, used gently
