Geology Unit Study

 

This unit is ©Copyright 2004 by Cindy Downes. All rights reserved. Permission is given to homeschooling parents to use these units free of charge in their own homeschool only. These units may not be reprinted in any other form, for any other purpose (commercial or otherwise) without permission from Cindy Downes. Contact her at contact@oklahomahomeschool.com.

Geology Unit

This unit is designed to be completed in twelve weeks, completing two, 1 - 2 hour lessons per week; however, you can customize it to any length, depending upon how much material you cover and how long you take to cover it. Read over General Directions for Cindy's Unit Studies for information on how to teach the unit. The main textbooks are The Geology Book and Brighty of the Grand Canyon.

As a one-year course, you could use this as the basis for one, highschool-level geology unit by completing the material listed below, requiring the reading of two or more highschool-level books on the subject, and requiring the completion of a research paper and/or science fair project as a final project.

Textbooks:

Activity Books. Pick an activity book or books based on the needs of your family. You WILL NOT be able to cover everything. Choose one or two activities per day and save what you don't cover for another year.

Week 1: Earth’s Composition
o Read: The Geology Book, Inside the Earth, pgs. 6-9
o Read: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
o Read: God Made the Earth. (PreK-1).
Activities:
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 6-16 (crust, mantle, core), 1-4
o Considering God’s Creation, pg. 28-29, Earth’s Composition
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 13-15, An Ant’s Eye View of Dirt
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 16-17, Let’s eat dirt (recipe)
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 18-20, Teeny tiny Rocks, sand
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 73, Grand Sand Painting
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 21-22, Crust of the Earth
o Soil types & quiz: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/c2facts2.html (K-6+)
o Soil Activities: http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/Kids/index.html (K-6)
o Sammy Soil Coloring Book: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/edresources/ssoil.html
o God's Rockin' World Video Join the Earth Team and zany Professor Schnaege for a rockin exploration of the earth beneath our feet. See its layers, sparkling geodes. precious gems. Look deep into the heart of a fiery volcano. Learn how marble is made.From microscopic crystals to the magnificent Grand Canyon, see how the Master Creator watched over the tiniest detail. Out of print. Only a few left. Waiting for them to bring it out in DVD! Try to borrow from your library or from Creation Science Video Lending Library.
o Creation Science Video Lending Library-Free by mail. Dinosaurs, Creation, Astronomy, Geology, http://www.creationism.org/library/index.htm

Week 2: Rock Cycle
o Reading: The Geology Book, Igneous (pg. 10-12), Sedimentary rocks (pgs. 12-17), and Metamorphic Rocks (pgs. 18-19, 48-49), Sedimentation (pg. 36-37), Metamorphism (pg. 48-49). Skip anything too hard for your child to understand.
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Activities:
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 27-44 (rocks)
o Considering God’s Creation, pg. 31-37, Rock cycle & Rock Detective (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), mineral testing
o Rocks and Minerals, pg. 11-12, three types of rocks
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 23-25, Rocks Go round and Round
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 26-27, Rock Cycle
o All About Rocks and Minerals. (video, try your local library)
o Composition: Pg. 32 Forms for Report Writing (Rocks)
o Learning About the Earth, pgs. 44 - 52, K-2
o Lab: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 37-59, Models for rocks, 3-6+
o Lab: Make the edible rock recipes
o Internet, Rockhound Home Page: http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/index2.html
o Internet, Rocks for Kids: http://www.rocksforkids.com/
o Lab: Rock Collection. Experiment with rocks using this complete collection.
o Lab: Break Your Own Geodes.
o Lab: Rock Tumbler. This is a must have! It comes with rocks but it's even more fun to look for rocks to polish.
o Additional rock and mineral supplies can be found at Rockman's Rocks.

Week 3: Minerals
o Reading: Rocks and Minerals (A True Book) by Ann O. Squire. 47 pgs, K-5
o Reading: Rocks and Minerals by Tracy Staedter. 64 pgs, Grades 3-8. Out of print. Check your local library.
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
o Reading: The Crow and the Pitcher (http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/55.html) and Stone Soup (http://www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor116.shtml).
Activities:
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 17-26 (earth's crust, soil), 1-4
o Rocks and Minerals, pg. 29-30, rocks and minerals
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 33-34, Mineral Mystery, sorting (you'll need rock and mineral specimens)
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 35-37, Minerals Detectives
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 38-40, Match the Minerals
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 41-42, Rock Cookies (recipe)
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 43-44, Homemade Rocks (play dough, small chips of rocks, string)
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 58, Mohs Math, 4-8
o Lab: Rocks & Minerals Kit . Grades 4-6.
o Lab: Mineral Test Kit , rocks from Activity rock kit and any other rocks you can collect
o The Ultimate Rocks & Minerals Sticker Book . K-6
o Internet, Mineral Games for kids: http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/K12/games.html
o Internal, Mineralogy for Kids: http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/K12/K_12.html
o Field Trip: Great Salt Plains State Park, Jet, OK. Northwest of Enid.
o Assessment: Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 45-46, Which Mineral is This?

Week 4: Crystals
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
o Reading: Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Martin. PreK/K
Activities:
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 47-48
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 49-52, Crystal Creations (alum, Epsom salt, cupric sulfate and more) Supplies available through science supply stores.
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 53-54, Crystal Shapes
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. Crystal Gardens (ammonia, bluing)
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 57-59, Crystal Garden Recipe
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 30, Crystal Gardens (supplies needed), 4-8
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 60-62, Simulated Geodes
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 31, Homemade Geodes (supplies needed), 4-8
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 68, Social Studies activities, choose as needed.
o Rocks and Minerals, pgs. 63-65, Making Crystals Assessment (supplies needed)
o Lab: Smithsonian Crystal Growing Kit. Substitute this for Rocks and Minerals activities above if you would rather not look for supplies.
o Treasure Hunt: Moody Science Adventure Series, Video . Moody Science Adventure.
o Internet: Crystals, http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Science/crystals.html
o Internet: Rex the Dino Detective, GeoMystery. http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/mysteries.html
Internet Recipe, Crystal Pops: http://www.ghbooks.com/activity/activity.cfm?bookid=10015&page=29

Week 5: Plains, Plateaus, Mountains, Caves
o Reading: The Geology Book, Earth’s Surface: Plains (pgs. 20-22), Plateaus (pgs. 22-23), Mountains (pgs. 24-25)
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Activities:
o Learning About the Earth, pgs. 53-63, K-1
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 35, Geographical Features, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 36, Grand Canyon Rock Strata, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. Grand Canyon Map, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 43, Daily Writing Topics on Brighty, use as desired, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 15-16, Stalactites and Stalagmites (Epsom salt or alum, iron washers, cotton cord), 4-8
o Lab: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 110-124, Models for moving plates & mountains, 3-6+
o Internet, Exploring Caves: http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/cave/
o Internet, Biomes of the World: http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/
o Composition: Pg. 53 Forms for Report Writing (Report on a mountain range)
o Field Trip: Robbers Cave State Park, Five miles north of Wilburton onSH 2. (918) 465-2565.
o Field Trip: Alabaster Caverns State Park Freedom, OK. (580-621-3381)
o Field Trip: Black Mesa Preserve. Highway 325 to the extreme NW corner of state. (1-800-654-8240)

Week 6: Erosion
o Reading: The Geology Book, Erosional Features (pgs. 26-27), Erosion (pgs 28-32), Deposition (pgs. 33-35)
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Activities:
o Learning About the Earth, pgs. 64-72, K-2
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 45-54 (erosion), 1-4
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 61-69 (earth's resources), 1-4
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 38, All Washed Up, Erosion (supplies), 4-8
o Lab: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 60-99, Models for Weathering and Erosion, 3-6+
o Lab: Erosion activities: http://www.bright.net/~double/erode.htm (K-6+)

Week 7: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
o Read: The Geology Book, Volcano (pgs. 42-43), 4-8
o Read: Brighty of the Grand Canyon

Activities for Volcanoes
:
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 55-57 (volcanoes & earthquakes), 1-4
o Reading: Volcanoes by Patricia Netzley, 48 pg, ISBN 0737713917.
o Reading: Vacation Under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne. PreK-6.
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 24, Model Volcanoes (supplies needed), 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 22, Volcano Facts, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 45, Create Your Own Book, complete as desired., 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 51, Crossword Puzzle, Volcano, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 52, Volcanic Word Search, 4-8
o Lab: Our Amazing Volcanoes kit. Create spectacular eruptions from 6 inches to 6 feet high, includes full color Volcano Poster. Learn about volcanoes - the different types, how they work, why they form, where to find them, & history's most famous volcanoes.
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 68, Locating Geological Features, Ring of Fire Week 8: Tidal Waves, 4-8
o Project:: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 10-36, Models for volcanoes, 3-6+
o Internet: Volcano World, http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vw.html

Activities for Earthquakes
o Reading: The Geology Book, Tidal Waves (pg. 35), Earthquakes (pgs. 44-46)
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
o Reading: If You Lived at the Time of the Great San Francisco Earthquake by Ellen Levine.
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 53, Fear Factors, Earthquakes, Natural disasters, 4-8
o Lab: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 100-109, Models for earthquakes, 3-6+
o Internet, Earthquake ABCs: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/kids/abc/
o Internet, Earthquake Glossary: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/eqterms.html
o Internet, Earthquake Coloring Pages: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/kids/coloring/
o Internet, Plate Puzzle: http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/research/deformation/modeling/teaching/puzzle/puzzle_letterbase.pdf and http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/teachers/LargePlatePuzzle.pdf
o Internet, Exploratorium Earthquakes: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ls/pathfinders/earthquakes/
o Internet, Map for Plotting Earthquakes: http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/education/maps.html
o Internet, Earthquake Activity in Last 7 Days, http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/qed/
o Internet, What's Shakin'? : http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/quakes/intro/
o Internet, Earthquake Quiz: http://www.crustal.ucsb.edu/ics/understanding/quiz/
o Internet, Earthquake Project Ideas: http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/students/project.htm

Week 9: Creation and Geological Events, Fossils, Dinosaurs, Oil (Note: skip anything that is too difficult for your child.)
o Reading: The Geology Book, Were the Continents Once Connected? (pg. 47-48)
o Reading: The Geology Book, Radioisotope decay, carbon dating, ways to date the earth (pgs. 49-57)
o Reading: The Geology Book, Fossils/Dinosaurs (pg 38-41)
o Reading: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Activities:
o Learning About the Earth, pgs. 73-80, K-2
o Geology (Scienceworks): pgs. 70-80, 1-4
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 72, Rocks Tell Tales, How Old is It? (compare w/The Geology Book), 4-8
o Reading: The Geology Book, Great Geological Events of the Past, creation, the fall, the flood (pgs. 58-66)
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 37, How did it Happen?, 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 71, Geological Time Periods (compare with The Geology Book), 4-8
o Reading: Dinosaurs by Design by Duane Gish.
o Singing: God Made Dinosaurs: http://www.dltk-bible.com/dinosaurs.htm. (PreK - 1)
o Dinosaur Coloring Page: http://www.right-brained.com/dinosaur/coloringpage.pdf (PreK-2)
o Dinosaur Craft: http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/dinosaurs.html (K-6)
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 38, Creating Fossils (supplies needed), 4-8
o Reading: The Geology Book, The Ice Age, Q&As (pgs. 67-72)
o Reading: The Geology Book, The Future Earth (pgs. 73-75)
o Lab: The Amazing Earth Model Book. Pgs. 50-54, Model for fossils, 3-6+
o Newton's Workshop: World Building 101 (Days Of Creation), Video (ISBN 1575672189) Also available from Moody.
o Lab: Prospector's Mystery Rock, Unearth 4 real gemstones including a genuine emerald, 3 prehistoric fossils including an ancient dinosaur bone, and 3 rock and mineral specimens including "fool's gold." Includes an excavation tool, specimen brush, sorting trays for displaying or storing your mystery treasures, and a log and activity book.
o Lab: I Dig Dinosaurs Kit. Using a steel hammer and chisel, kids dig up a glow-in-the dark dinosaur skeleton and identify it using the included Paleontologist.

Week 10-11: Make up Weeks
o Read: Brighty of the Grand Canyon
o Do any activities or reading that you missed.

Week 12: Review
o Read: Brighty of the Grand Canyon (continue reading in family reading times until finished)
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 11, Is it So?, Grade 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 59, Plot the Answers, Grades 4-8
o Geology Theme Unit, pg. 74, Read about Geology Careers, Grades 4-8
o Rock Quiz: http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/RocksandMinerals/RockQuiz.html

Be sure to enter these topics on your copy of The Checklist.

Please let me know if any of these links do not work. Email: contact@oklahomahomeschool.com.

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