CU 2.03Rocks and Soil
The child examines, sorts, and describes rocks and explores what soil is made of.
Presentation
- 1
Invite the child to bring the rock basket to a tray. Take out one rock and describe it: color, rough or smooth, heavy or light.
- 2
Show the magnifying glass and how to hold it close to the rock and move the head, not the glass.
- 3
Invite the child to describe another rock.
- 4
Place two category cards (rough, smooth) and sort the rocks under them.
- 5
On another day, feel sand, clay, and potting soil and name each one.
- 6
Put soil and water in the jar, close the lid tightly, and shake.
- 7
Leave the jar on the shelf. The next day, look at the layers that settled and name them: rocks and sand at the bottom, then silt and clay, with bits of plants floating.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Sort rocks by more than one quality
- Start a class rock collection with labels of where each rock was found
- Learn the three rock types for older children: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
- Learn the Utah state rock (coal), mineral (copper), and gem (topaz)
Control of error
The rocks themselves can be felt again to check the sort; the settled layers in the soil jar show the parts of soil directly.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Describes a rock using at least three qualities
- Uses the magnifying glass correctly
- Names at least two things found in soil
Guide note
Use rocks larger than a choke-test cylinder for children who still mouth objects. Wash hands after handling soil.