OHC More Nature Study Book #4: Granite or Other Igneous Rocks

 
More Nature Study Book #4
Summer Rock Study - Granite and Other Igneous Rocks

Inside Preparation Work:

• Read the Handbook of Nature Study pages 743-750 (Introduction to Rocks and Minerals and Lessons 209—210).
• For this challenge, concentrate on Lesson 209– Granite. You can also observe other igneous rocks: basalt, obsidian, and pumice.
• View the images and the videos in the Additional Links section below.
• Advanced study: Interactive Rock Cycle—This is a great overview of the rock cycle and identifying rocks.

Note To the Parent: There is a lot of great information in this study, far more than can be covered in a week. Use this study as an introduction to geology as it relates to nature study in your own backyard or neighborhood. Read the information in the Handbook of Nature Study and share any facts or ideas with your child that make sense to you. Keep it simple. 

Outdoor Hour Time:

• Go exploring for rocks. Bring along a collecting box or bag and see if you can find some rocks, particularly granite or other igneous rocks. Remember what you read in the Handbook of Nature Study and the images you viewed in your preparation.
• Collect some samples to bring inside to look at closely. Make sure to take a photo for your Summer Photo Challenge Scavenger Hunt notebook.

Follow-Up Activities:

• Choose one of the rocks you collected outdoors and look at it closely using a hand lens. If you collected some granite, can you distinguish the various components? Record your observations in your nature journal.
• Advanced study: Diagram and describe the rock cycle in your nature journal.
• Advanced study: Use your observation skills and record your information in your nature journal. Use a rock identification key to identify your igneous rock.

Additional Links:

• Geology Video: Igneous Rocks (for younger students)
• Rock cycle interactive (simple explanations)
• Igneous rock images with information
• Advanced Study: Igneous Rock video on YouTube.com
• Igneous Rock Images on Geology.com 

All the summer challenges for 2012 are included in the new More Nature Study Book #4 Summer Sizzle ebook. The challenges in the ebook are the same challenges that will post every Friday here on my blog. If you want to follow along with notebook pages and coloring pages, click over and learn more about the ebook.