rocks

I have a free homeschool geology unit study. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

Find out how to create your own diy eggshell geode, gather a list of fabulous books, and learn some interesting facts alongside your child.

Geology is the study of the Earth, on and under its surface, and the processes that shape it.

This applies to tectonic plates, the layers of the earth, volcanoes, rocks, and minerals to name a few common studies.

For this homeschool geology unit study, we are going to focus a bit more on the rocks and minerals aspect of geology.

Petrology is the study of the 3 types of rocks – igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary and the processes that form and transform them.

Mineralogy is the study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of the mineral makeup of rocks.

5 Fascinating Facts For Your Homeschool Geology Unit Study

1. A mineral is a solid, naturally occurring substance made up of one or more elements and a gem is a precious or semi-precious mineral that has been cut and polished.
2. People who explore caves to enjoy and examine stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock and mineral formations found there are known as spelunkers.
3. A rock can begin as one type and can change many times. Rocks are always changing; it just takes a very long time for these changes to occur.
4. Diamonds are the hardest mineral.
5. Meteorites are rocks from space, and they help scientists learn more about the solar system.

Also, look at more geology activities.

MORE GEOLOGY UNIT STUDY ACTIVITIES

Too, add some more geology unit study ideas.

Homeschool Geology Unit Study Activity Ideas

• This Geology Gem Stone Slime is a fun sensory idea for examining and extracting stones.
• Watch Introduction to Geology on YouTube to find out more about what it includes.
• Rock Activities For Kindergarten And Fun Edible Rock Cycle
• To find out more about rocks and minerals specifically, you might enjoy Rocks for Kids.
• Grab this free earth science book.
• Edible Rock Cycle Fudge and Hands-on Rock Activities
• Watercolor the beautiful layers of an Agate.

• Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages
• EASY Hands-on Earth Science: Fun Water Testing Kit
• 40 Awesome Earth Science Movies for Kindergarten
• Free Earth Science Lapbook
• Free Homeschool Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
• Hands-On Geography Activity: Make a Pangaea Puzzle
• Geoscavenge – A Rock and Mineral Hunt

• This is a great simple experiment to demonstrate stalactites and stalagmites formation.
• Learning can also be delicious like this activity that includes making Rock Candy Geodes.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

• Free Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study And Easy DIY Water Filter
• Free Peregrine Falcon Lapbook And Fun Unit Study Ideas
• Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages
• France Unit Study and Make Easy French Bread
• Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
• How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
• Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
• How to Incorporate Subjects into a Fun Homeschool Cooking Unit Study
• Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
• Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
• Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
• Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
• Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
• Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Then, look at this fun list of books to add to your homeschool geology unit study.

As you can see, studying geology covers a lot of other science topics. For example, there are volcanoes to tectonic plates to learn about.

So, I’m adding some vocabulary words which will help you to round your study.

Geology Vocabulary Words

• fossil – the preserved remains of things that lived long ago
• ocean trench – a narrow, extremely deep valley formed when the seafloor dips down as one tectonic plate slides under another
• continental drift – a process in which continents slowly move over time on the surface of the earth
• geologist – a scientist who studies the makeup of the earth and the forces and processes that shape and change it
• basalt – heavy, dense rock formed from cooled, hardened lava
• magnitude – an earthquake’s strength
• plate tectonics – a theory that Earth’s crust and the solid top part of the mantle are broken up into sections that fit together but move against each other
• tsunami – a gigantic wave of seawater caused by an earthquake in oceanic crust
• fault – a crack in Earth’s crust
• crater – a bowl-shaped opening at the top of a volcano or geyser
• mineral – a solid, nonliving substance found in the earth that makes up rocks
• hot spring – a naturally flowing source of hot water
• obsidian – a dark rock or natural glass formed from lava that cooled very quickly
• granite – a common igneous rock that forms from magma that cooled within Earth’s crust

Finally, look how to make this fun diy eggshell geode.

Homeschool Geology Unit Study- DIY Eggshell Geode

You will need:

• Eggshells
• Egg carton
• Borax
• Epsom salt
• School glue
• Food coloring

Gather some eggshells from breakfast.

Plan ahead and try to crack them in unique ways rather than just in half.

Wash thoroughly and carefully peel away the thin membrane inside the eggshell.

Turn upside and allow it to dry.

Once dry, pour a generous amount of school glue into your eggshell and roll it around to coat well to the edges.

Pour all the excess glue into the next shell until you need more or are finished coating all the shells you are using.

Fill each shell with Epsom salts, rolling around to get it all in the glue, this serves a few purposes.

DIY Eggshell Geode

First, it gives the borax crystals something to grab onto and helps encourage their growth all over the inside of the shell.

Secondly, it gives a little more “bulk” to your geode, letting your child have the satisfaction of a little bit quicker experience.

Shake out the excess Epsom salts.

Let the Epsom salt and glue dry and harden together.

Heat water to almost boiling on the stove or in the microwave.

I find it easiest to do it in a large heat-safe measuring cup with a pour spout for pouring later.

Stir in a few tablespoons of Borax, mix well, and continue adding until the water no longer absorb any of the powder when thoroughly stirred in.

There should be a bit of powder sitting in the bottom, this is how you know it is supersaturated.

Place the eggshells with the opening at the top wherever it is on the shell, the carton comes in very handy for this step.

It holds it well and safely catches the overflow. Place it where it will be for the next 24 hours, undisturbed because you don’t want to move it around until it’s ready.

Place a drop or two of food coloring inside each egg.

Carefully pour your saturated water into the eggshells right up to the very edge.

Allow to sit undisturbed for 12-24 hours, flip the eggs to drain and dry.  The longer you let them sit the larger the crystals.

You can paint the outside of the shells if you like or leave them as they are.

Voila, you have beautiful handmade geodes that open the door for wonderful discussions on how geodes are formed.