When putting together our unit study for geology, I assembled a variety of books, kits and projects. While we loved most of the activities and kits, the books we chose weren’t as successful. We read a lot. And most books were informative but not captivating. My 5th grader probably read 40 books in total (including the ones I read aloud to him), and yet nothing seemed to stick as well as the geology lapbook we did at the conclusion of our unit study and the earth scienceProfessor Noggins game we played throughout our unit. The activities we did were fun and informative, but I don’t think we learned too much more than the rock cycle and a smattering of info on volcanoes and the layers of the earth. To remedy this mediocre attempt at geology, I plan to do a follow up unit in the spring. This spring unit will only be about two weeks and will be a way to focus what learned (or should have learned) in this unit.
You can find a complete list of the materials we used along with pictures and lesson plans by clicking here.
Kits, projects and workbooks:
GeoCentral Igneous Rock Science Kit
Learn to identify 15 different rocks
Grades: 2nd and up
Learn to identify 15 different rocks using a magnifier
Grades: 2nd grade and up
Learn to identify 15 different rocks using a magnifier
Grades: 2nd grade and up
GeoCentral Treasures of the Earth
Excavate different rocks through layers of the ‘earth’ in this kit
Grades: 2nd grade and up
Professor Noggin Geology card game
Multi -level trivia card game for elementary aged kids
Grades 2nd and up
Lyrical Earth Science Volume one-Geology workbook
Workbook pages with questions and answers, vocabulary, true and false, matching
Grades 5th and up
Lyrical Earth Science Volume one-Geology Book
Workbook style book with geologic topics
Grades 5th and up
Lyrical Earth Science Volume one-audio CD
Songs that accompany the workbook/book on geology
Grades 2nd and up
Science Earth Science Activity Guide Curriculum Mastery Flip Charts
Large laminated flip chart with 10 activity topics from minerals and rocks to the solar system
Grade level: 6th and up
Tops Learning System Rocks and Minerals by Task Card Series grade 7-12
Activity kit with almost everything you need to perform multiple experiments/demonstrations using rocks and minerals
Grades 7-12
Discover Rock and Crystal Excavation Kit
Rock excavation kit by GeoCentral
Grade level: 1st and up
Crystal Mines Citrine & Rose Quartz Kit (D&D)
Dig, Discover and Display rock excavation kit
Grades 2nd and up
Crystal Mines Emerald & Topaz Kit(Dig & Disc)
Dig, Discover and Display rock excavation kit
Grades 2nd and up
Crystal Mines Quartz & Aquamarine Kit (D & D)
Dig, Discover and Display rock excavation kit
Grades 2nd and up
Rock excavating was never so much fun as this kit! You get to dig through a ‘volcano’ to discover the six igneous rocks hidden within.
Grades 2nd and up
Break Open Real Geodes:Worlds Best Geode Kit
I can’t think of something more exciting than choosing a rock and break or cutting it open to reveal the mysteries inside. This kit comes with geodes that can be broken open with a hammer.
Grades 2nd and up
Dinosaur Dig Kit (Excavation Kit)
Excavate dinosaur
Books:
Planet Earth by Ian James and Andrew Farmer
Illustrated “DK Eyewitness” style book with captions and small paragraphs. Very general book that covers a wide range of geological topics from plate movement to sand dunes. Great for read aloud or independent reading.
Grades 4th and up
Reading level: 6th and up
Eyewitness Books: Crystal and Gem
Not a ‘living book’ so it can get a little dry, yet this book is very informative and is packed with photos and captions.
Grade level: 6th and up
Reading level 8th and up
Eyewitness Books: Rocks and Minerals
Not a ‘living book’ so it can get a little dry, yet this book is very informative and is packed with photos and captions.
Grade level: 6th and up
Reading level 8th and up
The Geology Book by Dr. John D. Morris
Informative “textbook” that reads like a ‘living book’. Includes illustrations, photos and captions.
Grade level: 5th grade
Reading level: 6th grade
Simple information with many pictures. Amount of text equals pictures so it’s a fast read.
Grade level: 2nd and up
Reading level: 4th and up
Science Close-up Minerals by Robert A. Bell and James Spence
A ‘Golden Book’ with 1980’s illustrations that are still current today. Written as a narrative in an engaging simply manner. Packed with info.
Grade level: 2nd grade and up
Reading level 5th grade and up
Mountains and Volcanoes by Barbara Taylor
Geography facts and experiments. Easy projects with clear instructions. Simple read with beautiful illustrations.
Grade level: 2nd grade and up
Reading level: 4th grade and up
DK Eye Wonder Rocks and Minerals
Informative book with many photos. Not a ‘living book’. Filled with captions and pictures. Sometimes it’s hard to read this book from start to finish because it isn’t written as a narrative, but likewise, you can just read a section that pertains to the subject area you are studying.
Grade level: 4th grade and up
Reading level 6th grade and up
Grand Canyon Geology by L. Greer Price
Dense and informative with some illustrations. You have to be really interested in the subject area to finish this book.
Grade level: 8th grade and up
Reading level: 8th grade and up
DK Eyewitness Explorers Rocks and Minerals
Engaging read with simple projects and beautiful illustrations
Grade level: 3rd grade and up
Reading level: 6th grade and up
Why Do Diamonds Sparkle? All About Earth’s Resources by Helen Bethune
Quick read with questions and answers, biographies and information with pictures
Grade level: 3rd and up
Reading level 4th and up
The World of Rocks and Minerals by William B. Rice
Simple read with illustrations and pictures. Contains vocabulary words and simple labs
Grade level: 3rd grade and up
Reading level: 5th grade and up
Simple read with illustrations and pictures. Contains vocabulary words and simple labs
Grade level: 3rd grade and up
Reading level: 5th grade and up
Simple read with many illustrations, large print chapter book
Grade level 2nd and up
Reading level 4th and up
Simple read with many illustrations, large print chapter book
Grade level 2nd and up
Reading level 4th and up
Simple read with many illustrations, large print chapter book
Grade level 2nd and up
Reading level 4th and up
Let the Rocks Cry Out by Sandy Queen
Curriculum based on the Charlotte Mason philosophy
Grade level: 7th and up
Picture books:
A Rock is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
Beautifully illustrated book written in an informative simple style
Grade level: 1st and up
Reading level: 6th and up
If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian with Photographs by Barbara Hirsch Lember
Simply written with little science introduced in an easy way.
Grade level: KG and up
Reading Level: 4th grade and up