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
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