I am going to be hosting a small co-op for some kindergarteners and we will be looking at rocks. Simply, we will look at the three different rock types and how they are formed: metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary. I was wondering if anyone knew of any interactive websites that might simply explain the process that would be good for kids of this age. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
try the national geographic kids website... we got some good stuff from them when we did rocks last, we also ordered a kit that has examples of each rock cross sectioned for your viewing pleasure...ill try to find a direct link
You also might to see if you find any on the website. www.hsiz.org click Resources click academic click science click earth (some of the main science categories haven't found a home yet. Science has been a tough one to organize. Here's one of my favorites... http://rockhoundkids.com/
Make edible rocks...helps students see the difference in the three types of rocks. Igneous rocks---melt chocolate chips in microwave, (melted rock or magma) have a piece of wax paper on each desk and put a spoonful of melted chocolate on each wax paper for students to watch it cool and harden. *****Make Gumdrop Metamorphic rocks....Give each student 2 pieces of wax paper, give each student three different colored gum drops (cut into nine or ten pieces)---put the pieces of gum drops between the pieces of wax paper and have the students press the gumdrops together)remove the wax paper and discuss how heat and pressure make metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary Rocks...make and eat Rice Krispies. *****Make pet rocks Students bring a rock about the size of an egg. Use for experiments, do rocks sink or float. Be sure and have at least one rock that floats. Than make their rocks into Pet Rocks (teacher uses super glue ---to glue on two wiggly eyes.) Pet Rocks are their reading buddies and listen to students read. Students must read to their rock fifteen minutes each night to keep their rocks alive (we use this as part of our Book-It reading activity) (******Hard boiled egg cut in half with a red hot candy put in the center of the egg yolk = the different layers of the earth. Shell is the crust and is approximately 6-40 miles, the white represents the mantle and is approximately 1,800 miles, the yolk represents the outer core and is approximately 1,375 miles, the red hot is the very very HOT inner core and is approximately 1,750 miles. Read the book "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth" this explains the layers of the earth and the composition of each. These are not my ideas they have been gathered here and there and put into my collection of ideas and activities. Email me and I will share my complete rock doc.
