Do you need geology activities? For a classroom? Homeschooling? Something different for an after school program? Maybe you dont know how much you need them.

If youve ever taken a walk in the woods with a young child, youve probably observed a natural love of rocks and minerals. Shape, color, textureany of these can warrant special notice, a quick pick-up and a drop in the pocket. Once home, those same rocks can spark a memory or an imagination of how it came to be there at just that spot in the path.

A love for the natural world is so universal that if you drop rocks and minerals into a Google search youll find over 9 million websites from countries all around the world--and lots of these are directed to children or made by children. On a short search, I encountered sites by teachers for students, by avid rock hounds for aspiring rock hounds, by colleges, universities, and museums, and by folks who just LOVE rocks!

Thats why we recommend starting a geology club.

Geology Club In Ohio

Last year, Kathy Koenig of Cincinnati started a geology club for 7 and 8 year-olds. Being a teacher, she wanted to inspire kids in a subject she knew would be lots of fun. She also wanted to give the students plenty of opportunities for some genuine science work. She planned out a years worth of geology activities and lessons.

The Basic Plan

The club met for eight sessions monthly throughout the school year. Students paid $25 for the year-long club, all of which was to be used to purchase specimens, experimental materials, and geology activities, that could then be owned by the students. Kathy searched hard to find resources who would give her a lot for her money. (Thats how she found us at www.fossilicious.com!)

Attendance

Would you be surprised if you found out that this geology club had nearly 100% attendance, even on Friday afternoons after school? Thats what happened! Even on the last day of the week, kids were thrilled to spend time LEARNING!

The students worked with: