We really love to do rock activities that are easy. Also, look at my Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.
There are so many different hands-on activities to do when learning about rocks.
We did a Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages activity a while back and today we decided to whip out an edible rock cycle fudge. (yum)
Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do.
Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do.
Make Edible Rock Cycle Fudge
Let the younger ones measure and stir the ingredients when they are not hot.
Otherwise, turn this activity over to your kids. Yes, easy activities are my style.
Let’s go. Here is what you need.
- Microwave | two bowls (one needs to be microwave safe)
- spatula
- wax paper
- thin cookie sheet
- liquid and dry measuring cups
- 1/2 cup silt (sweetened condensed milk)
- 1/2 cup quartz crystals (sugar)
- 1 T. sediment (softened butter)
- 1 cup limestone pieces (marshmallows)
- 1/4 cup or more sandstone pieces (we used walnuts because we love them, but pecans are fine too)
- | 3/4 cup basalt pieces (chocolate chips)
- 1/2 t. vanilla extract
Add the milk, sugar and softened butter in microwave safe mixing bowl and stir to mix. Set aside.
Edible Rock Cycle Fudge
In the second bowl combine the one cup of marshmallows, 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecan pieces, 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Place the mixing bowl with the milk, sugar, and butter in the microwave.
Microwave it three times for 45 seconds each.
After each time, take it out, stir, and microwave again.
After the third time, pour the marshmallows, walnuts and chocolate chips into the bowl.
Everything should start melting.
(By the way since the mixing bowl has been microwaved 3 times, it’s hot. So your kids may want to use an oven mitten.)
If it’s not hot enough and melting, stick it in the microwave again and give it a few more seconds.
Pour out onto wax paper which is placed on a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.
Or, if you’re like us and can’t wait that long, stick it in the freezer for a while and cheat.
Here are some questions to ask about the rock cycle.
- What is the rock cycle? It’s how rocks are formed, it’s how rocks breakdown, and it’s how rocks form into other rocks.
- How is the fudge similar to the rock cycle? (Magma is chocolate, different pieces are sediment and when it cools, it’s igneous rock.)
- What is sediment? (Metamorphic rocks can break down and turn into sediment).
- What happens when we apply heat to a sedimentary rock?
- What is magma?
Look at some other hands-on rock activities I’ve rounded up and love.
Rocks Unit Studies
- Free Grand Canyon Unit Study.
- Geology Leader Notebook 92 pages.
- Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
- Hands-on Science: Rocks & Minerals Unit.
- Rocking the Cycle Unit Study 45 pages.
- 4th Grade What are Minerals? 61 pages.
Rock Printables, Lesson Plans and Activities
Now, look at some rock printables, lesson plans and activities.
- Sedimentary Rocks Notebooking Pages.
- Hands-On Rock Cycle: Crayons & Cookies.
Metamorphic Rocks. - Rocks and Minerals: Scratch Test.
- Geoscavenge – A Rock and Mineral Hunt & Printable
- How Sedimentary Rocks are Formed.
- 40+ Rocks and Stones Learning Activities for Kids.
Living Books About Rocks
And my favorite rock living book with hands-on activities.
6 Rock Unit Study Books & Fun Resources
Whatever grade you're teaching, you'll love adding one of these books or resources to your day.
From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.
A pocket microscope is a great addition to a science shelf or to add to your bag for nature walks.
You can grab a set like this one to start your collection, it contains rocks from each of the 3 types- Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous.
Identify colorful gemstones, sparkly crystals, the toughest rocks, and ancient fossils. Packed with fun facts, information, and extensive photos all about the rocks and minerals that make up the world around us.
Simon Basher is back with another zany primer to science! Following his 3 successful titles on the basics of chemistry, physics, and biology, BASHER SCIENCE: ROCKS AND MINERALS is an in-depth look at the ground beneath our feet. Like his other titles, Basher presents these topics through charming and adorable illustrations and pairs them with basic information told from a first person perspective. He develops a community of characters based on the things that form the foundations
of our planet: rocks, gems, crystals, fossils and more. And what's more, he makes it understandable, interesting, and cute. It's not what you expect out of a science primer.
Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.
Media About Rocks
- Be a Rock Detective.
- Fun – Sing Karaoka.
- The Rock Cycle
- The World Under a Rock
- Our World – The Rock Cycle.
More Ideas for Edible Rock Activities
- Rock Stacking.
- Rock Activities For Kindergarten And Fun Edible Rock Cycle
- Edible Rocks, Munching Meteorites
- Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages
- Edible Sedimentary Rocks.
- How to Identify Rocks Using a Nature Guide
- Rock Candy Crystals.
- DIY Agate Candy Slices.
Free 3 Notebooking Pages
Next, use my pages below to add your child’s thoughts about rocks.
- 3 Types of Rock Definition Page
- How Are Rocks Formed, Define Weathering, & Describe the Rock Cycle
- The ABCs of Rocks.
How to Get the Free Notebooking Pages
Now, how to grab the freebies. They are subscriber freebies.
That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.
1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!
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Angie says
Awesome! Thank you soooooo much!
Tina Robertson says
You are just so welcome Angie. Thanks for hanging out here!