Second Grade Rocks

To get hands-on with our Landforms science unit, we studied minerals and erosion in the Rainbow room today.  We began in song:

A rock is a home for minerals
A rock is a home, you see,
For heat and pressure and erosion
Form them differently!

Then, we enjoyed an interactive 'rock cycle'.  You may enjoy viewing it with your child:

http://www.teachersdomain.org/assets/wgbh/ess05/ess05_int_rockcycle/index.html

 

Our science testbook had a terrific inquiry: p. 196: How Land Shapes Change. We eroded our rock salt mineral in a jar of water and sand. Boy, you could see the difference using our 30X illuminated microscopes!

 

A display of minerals shows that crystals come in all shapes and sizes.

To make rock candy: http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/vtl07.math.geometry.sol.rockcandy/