Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth (Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing)) [Paperback]

Cindy Blobaum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing)

This title is suitable for ages 9 to 12 years. Dig into our ever-changing earth and discover how geology rocks your world every day. Explore planet Earth from its red-hot center to the top of the tallest volcano (and on into outer space!). Dig in, build, and create all things geologic with hands, mind, and feet. Be in charge of your own thoughts, ideas, and actions about the earth and how we use its treasures. For sure, you'll never feel the same about the pebble in your shoe, the pencil in your desk, or the coins jingling in your pocket.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Geology's basics are explored in a lively fashion and are accompanied by a combination of familiar and not-so-familiar experiments and activities. Each chapter introduces a concept such as "the first rock group-Igneous 'Iggy,' Sedimentary 'Sed,' and Metamorphic 'Morph'!" Ways to find and places to observe these types of rock are suggested. Activities such as creating a sand sculpture or playing "Rock Tic-Tac-Toe" are included. Sidebars give additional information about geologists, language links ("blow your top" or "petrified"), famous formations, scientific controversies, and how to think like a scientist. The text is witty but conveys much factual material. The experiments can be done easily with household items and include safety precautions. Whether making the standard chemical volcano, catching falling stars, or creating a mini glacier, readers will find much of interest here. The book is illustrated with red-and-purple tinted cartoons and photographs. The experiments are similar to those found in Alan Anderson's Geology Crafts for Kids (Lark, 1996), but Blobaum's offering is presented in a much more informal format.
Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The text is witty yet conveys much factual material ... readers will find much of interest here." -- School Library Journal

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Williamson Publishing Company (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885593295
• ISBN-13: 978-1885593290
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Rocks & Minerals
  • #17 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Earth Sciences
  • #22 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Experiments & Projects

More About the Author

With wanderlust and curiosity that knew few bounds, Cindy Blobaum worked and traveled around the United States and Australia before settling down in Iowa. Her jobs have included positions as a seasonal zoo keeper, quality control technician at a potato chip factory, carnival barker, waitress, and ice skating guard.

Her professional life is as a naturalist (aka field trip lady), educator and mom. Time and experience have shown that her strengths lie in making science understandable and fun through activities and unusual explanations, which she channels through her books, programs, elementary science methods classes, school presentations, and WFH curriculum writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book ROCKS!, September 6, 2007

By 

redhead83402 "linguistic architect" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth (Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing)) (Paperback)

I'm not sure why the previous reviewer thought there was nothing to this book, perhaps they did not actually USE the book themselves. I HAVE used this book for my children's homeschool study, and it is FANTASTIC! The concepts found in the book can be elaborated upon for older children, and used ~as is~ for younger kids, while the activities very well lend themselves to cementing basic geology into ANYbody's head, young or old. Plate tectonics with graham crackers, earth's crust with a composite homemade marshmellow- peppermint candy- chocolate-coated lolli-pop, sand-box crater creater... and the list goes on! My children have absolutely LOVED this book! And quite to the contrary of the previous reviewer's opinion, it has gotten them FAR MORE interested in geology then they ever knew they were!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rocks Rock!, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth (Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing)) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful introduction to concepts for your young geologist as well as a great place to find ideas for activities and experiements to aid her in her exploration of the earth! I've seen some of the activities presented in this book before, but several were new to me. The text is written in a witty manner, yet still provides a wealth of information.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It does rock!, August 22, 2008

By 

Crease in the Page (Hills of Northern California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth (Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing)) (Paperback)

I will be homeschooling this year for the first time ever, and I chose this book as my first ever homeschool unit. Lest you quit reading, thinking I'm a newbie, let me just tell you that I do have a California teaching credential, and a Master's degree in Education, and I have taught in a school setting for a few years. But I was frustrated with the regimented, by-the-book education that a school setting is forced to provide due to, well, many factors, and my 2nd-grade son was already hating the workbook approach to learning. This book is the answer. It is very right-brained, tactile-learner focused, and it has a few activities for all subject areas including writing. Ironically, I will once again be teaching by the book, but it will be by this book, which is another thing entirely. I will be supplementing with other curriculum for Readin' Writin' Rithmetickin,' but not much because I feel the activities in this book, along with a geology-related field trip once each week, will foster in my kids a strong desire for learning--they'll WANT to learn, so I won't have to force them to.

Honestly, I didn't know much about geology despite taking "Earth Science" in 9th grade, where I carefully read, detested, and answered textbook questions, but just reading through the activities in this book I suddenly know much more about geology and have had to restrain myself from enthusiastically telling my kids everything I've learned before our school year starts.

Too bad Kaleidoscope Kids doesn't make any math or phonics books.