Did you know that April 2 is Geologists Day? Recognize the event by walking and listening to Geology (Complete-#132, 5-#74, STEM-#15), and turn this topic into a full day (or maybe even a week) of earth science fun in April!
The Roots of Rock Study
James Hutton, an 18th century farmer and naturalist, is considered the founder of modern geology. Want to learn more about him? The American Museum of Natural History has an article for you! Students may be interested to note that his “Great Geological Cycle” sounds a lot like our modern rock cycle!
Another major contributor to modern geology was Alfred Wegener, first to suggest continental drift! Continental Divide (Complete-#135, 5-#30, STEM-#22) is a great podcast to start a discussion around this topic! While plate tectonics may seem obvious today, back in the 1910’s it was thought to be ridiculous. Students can learn more about continental drift with these map illustrations from National Geographic.
Round out your Resources
Curious about the role of rocks? Take a listen to Rocks of the Earth’s Crust (Complete-#134, 4-#75, STEM-#17) and Layers of the Earth (Complete-#133, 4-#74, STEM-#16) to learn more!
Interested in digging deeper? You may want to explore these earth science resources. For an in-depth look at how the rock cycle can be seen in the world around, look no further. Use this lesson on the rocks of the Grand Canyon, or view a video on Hawaii’s igneous landscape!
Looking for some literary links? Check out a handful of geology books! Between handy pocket guides and interesting dives into history, no little geologist will go unsatisfied.
Geology Rocks!
If you’re looking into local geological history, a rock scavenger hunt can be a fun activity for students! Try one from the U. S. Geological Service or the Urban Ecology Center!
And, you can find plenty of hands-on activities on this timely topic! Invite students to get a look (and a taste) with the Chocolate Rock Cycle! The Geological Society has loads of other fun experiments to choose from too. Your class can take core samples of candy bars or, for something a bit more “explosive”, try the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano!
For more on volcanoes (and mountains!), look no further! Start off with The Walking Classroom’s Mountains (Complete-#136, 4-#77, STEM-#21) and/or Volcanoes (Complete-#138, 4-#76, STEM-#19). Then, review this slide show from National Geographic or this lesson plan on mountains! Or have your students read up on some of the other effects of plate tectonics! It may be the most ground-shaking thing students learn all week, so here’s another quick read for interested kids.
Only one thing is missing for your little earthquake experts! Students can even build their own seismographs with this activity! Learn about other timely topics and be on the lookout for more ideas in future posts.
We can’t wait to do a couple of TWC podcast to celebrate Geologists Day!