Explore Rocks and Minerals: 20 Great Projects, Activities, Experiments

Stories for Children 5 star rating

Synopsis:
Have you ever wondered what those sparkly specks in the piece of gravel in your driveway might be? Or why some crystals grow so big? In Explore Rocks and Minerals! kids can try activities that will help them figure out the answers, from testing minerals and making crystals, to making yummy models of the earth and volcanic meringue cookies. Sidebars about people in geology, such as a kid who helped discover a new kind of dinosaur, or a geologist who proposed a theory that no one else believed for a long time, help kids see the human side of geology.

Overall thoughts:
My family is really into interactive books where we not only read, but also are able to apply what we are learning. My kids really enjoyed the different experiments. I think growing the needle-like mineral crystals was their favorite, however, with 20 experiments, games and projects to choose from . . . not only kids, but also families can have a wonderful time each weekend learning something new. You will learn about the earth right down to its core. You will learn how different types of crystals and minerals form, how volcanoes are made and why they explode. Kids will also learn about erosion and metamorphosis.

Each chapter/section covers a different topic and has a clear explanation of underlying concepts making learning fun and engaging for the whole family. Not to mention the great black and white illustrations that not only added character, but also show how and why each topic happened or how to do the activity.

You will also find a glossary at the back of the book making this a great resource for schools/teachers as well. And even though this book is recommended for ages 6 to 8, my five and fourteen year olds loved reviewing this book with me. So don't let the suggested ages fool you. Any child would have a great time reading, learning and doing the activities in this book.

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