Earth & Space Science Lesson 6: Intro. to Geology

Go to: Earth & Space Science Home Page

Read: 

Geology Rocks! pg. 4-19

Everything Rocks & Minerals pg. 10-11, pg. 18-19

 

Explore:

What is Geology? Interactive website for kids

Here is a great explanation of rocks & minerals:

If you were planning to bake a pie, what ingredients would you use for the crust? The ingredients used to make the Earth's crust, which is the part we stand on, are very complex. There are 90 different elements that exist in the Earth's crust. These elements combine with one another in a number of natural ways, creating molecules known as minerals. There are around 3,700 minerals found in the Earth's crust, with dozens of new minerals being discovered every year! Part of the job of a geologist is to dig beneath the Earth's surface to find these rocks, which are broken apart into minerals which we find in materials we use every day. 

Activity 1:

Go on a Mineral Scavenger Hunt to see the existence of minerals in our world. See how many of the items on this chart you can find at home or the store.

Activity 2: What is the difference between rocks & minerals?

Use various types of candy to learn the difference between rocks & minerals in this science experiment.