Are you in search of engaging ways to teach earth science in your homeschool or classroom? Hands-on activities help make complex concepts more memorable and enjoyable for students. Whether you’re building models of Earth’s layers, measuring stream flow, or exploring plate boundaries, these interactive lessons will bring earth science to life in your classroom! In […]
Category: Earth Science
Rocks and minerals are an important topic in the field of geology. Learning about rocks and minerals can be so fun for both kids and adults. Here are 7 hands-on rock and mineral activity ideas to try out in your classroom or homeschool.
Rocks are naturally formed, solid bodies made of minerals. But not all rocks are alike. They come in three main types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each of these three rock types forms in its own unique way. But here’s the really cool part: rocks can transform into different types! This happens really slowly over a […]
If you are studying rocks and minerals, you may be wondering: “what is the difference between rocks and minerals? Are they the same?”. The simple answer is no, they are not the same. You see, minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Below, we will dive into exactly what a rock and a mineral are, […]
In this lab, you will dive into the amazing world of minerals! Minerals are the building blocks of rocks, but they are also so much more. In fact, chances are that rocks and minerals play a role in your day-to-day life!
Are you studying rocks and minerals? Mineral identification may seem challenging at first, but by using these physical properties, you can identify many common minerals! Below, you will find a list of the physical properties of minerals that will help you identify minerals. Before we dive in: If you’re an educator planning to teach mineral physical properties, […]
Perhaps you have made a “cup of dirt” from pudding. But you can turn this simple snack into a tasty science activity by creating a soil horizons parfait! For this activity, you will make a parfait with 6 layers to represent the 6 horizons. This is an entertaining and tasty way to teach your students […]
Are you teaching your students the difference between porosity and permeability? While these two properties of soils and rocks are related, they are not the same! And what better way to understand the difference between porosity and permeability than a hands-on lab activity!? In this lab experiment, compare the porosity and permeability of three sediments: […]
Are you studying soil science, gardening, or agriculture with your students? If so, you have probably learned that soil is a mixture of sediments and organic matter. But different soils have different amounts of these two ingredients. A soil’s organic matter content is important, especially when considering a soil’s ability to support plants. In this […]
This “jar test” is great for the classroom. Shake up soil and water in a jar. Then, watch the grains settle over time. Larger grains settle faster than smaller grains.