For several weeks now, the School Age 3 program at RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Luke has been showing an interest in rocks. Outside, children have been collecting rocks and showing them off with excitement. The children are often pocketing these beautiful gems from nature to take home!
We wanted to expand on this interest by starting to learn more about rocks in general. What types of rocks are we finding? Where did they come from? How can we identify different rocks based on the physical properties we’re seeing? These deeper questions led to deeper discussions, which then led to a deeper understanding. We used a rock identification chart and a bag of small rocks that Dean collected to help us differentiate the types of rocks we had. We learned that there are three categories of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. While simultaneously trying to test Dean’s knowledge on rocks, we utilized the technology available to us to help us identify each of the rocks. First, we guessed which types of rocks they were, then we asked Dean to identify before finally asking Google. Though Dean was adamant that Google doesn’t always have the answers, google DID have the same answers as Dean! In this experience, technology was a useful tool in helping us to identify the rocks and to give us more information (for example: that Feldspar comes from molten magma cooling!).
As the children continued to display their interest in the topic, we decided to become our own geologists! Sierra brought in two large rocks from home, and after discussing safety precautions, the children used tools such as hammers, mallets and screwdrivers to smash the rocks into small pieces. As the rocks chipped apart, children ask question and inquired about the rocks. "Are there minerals inside the rocks?" Yug asked. As Hannah read through a book about rocks while closely investigating the rock pieces we smashed, she ultimately identified the rocks as Granite, mostly composing of quartz, feldspar and mica. Dean has confirmed our findings to be correct!
As we continue expanding on their interest in rocks, we want to incorporate different It will definitely take us a few more days to get through the full rocks, but we can’t wait to see where this interest takes us next!
