Educators Junior / Intermediate • Curriculum Kits • Newsletter • WHERE Challenge • Activities • Lesson Plans Senior Upcoming Events Event Memories Resources Earth Science Links Teacher's Comments Workshops   Activities Make Learning Fun There’s nothing like hands-on learning to help kids get the idea. We’ve collected a few activities over the years to help you deliver Earth science lessons that stick! A Paste with a Taste  Make toothpaste from the compounds calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Gelatin Volcano Use gelatin and coloured water to learn about magma movement and volcanic landforms. How Aggregates Get to You  Learn about the aggregate industry and explore problems, concerns, and solutions. Painting with Gypsum Use gypsum, in the form of chalk, to create gypsum paintings. Cave Wonders “Create” a cave formation – including stalactites and stalagmites – over the course of several weeks. “Eggs” periments with Vinegar Observe chemical reactions as eggshells dissolve in vinegar and calcium acetate crystals grow. Create a Jewellery Brochure Create a jewellery brochure describing how diamonds get from the ground to jewellery stores. Inuksuk Creative Writing Write instructions on how to build an Inuksuk. Build a Mine Construct a model mine and show how ore can be extracted from the ground.   Soap Carving  Study soapstone carving and sculpt carvings from bars of soap. Concrete: Hard as Rock – or Not? Examine the physical and chemical weathering of limestone. The Escaping Escarpment  Build an “escarpment” outside and observe its erosion due to the elements. Crayon Rock Cycle Simulation Use crayons to simulate how rocks transform through geological processes. The Standability Nutrient Observe how potassium helps plants stand up straight and take up water. Creating Quartz Crystal Clusters   Create a three-dimensional model of a crystal cluster for the mineral quartz. What’s in the Cereal You Eat? Learn about extracting valuable minerals from their host rock. Design with Amethyst  Examine a piece of amethyst and use it as a model to design a decorative amethyst piece. Walnut Geodes Create tiny geodes by lining walnut shells with sparkling mineral crystals. You’ll find more activities at http://www.earthlearningidea.com/ Educators Info 2011/2012 groundWork Issue 2010/2011 groundWork Issue Previous issues

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