Rock on!

Rocks are all around you, but how much do you think about them? It’s time to rock and roll about rocks.

CONNECT:

·         The earth rocks. Trace this planet’s history through rocks at http://www.mnh.si.edu/earth/text/index.html

·         From gem to jewelry; see the transformations at the Smithsonian collection: http://www.gimizu.de/sgmcol/

·         Read about the first rock band: 19^th century Canadians who explored rocks: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rock/021018-120-e.html

·         Are all rocks created equal? This wall of thousands of rock samples tests how weather impacts weather: http://stonewall.nist.gov/

·         Look at some super pictures of rocks, learn how to identify the rocks you already have and discover neat things you can do with rocks: http://www.rockhoundkids.com/

·         Rocks do change; see their life cycle at http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html

CREATE:

·         Create three kinds of rocks by following the directions at http://www.gimizu.de/sgmcol/

·         Find out what you need to use to gather great rock specimens! Your geology expert, Vic, will show you what equipment you should use, how to use it safely, and how to carefully bring back the rocks that you find!

·         Are you solid as a rock? How solid is that? Test the hardness of rocks with your fingernail, coins, and rocks. Start from scratch at: http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/hardness1.html

·         Grow crystals, build a rock collection, and play mine games at http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/kids/minerals/index.html

·         Here are 8 cool things you can do with rocks: http://thesecretyumiverse.wonderhowto.com/how-to/8-cool-things-you-can-do-with-rocks-0157626/

CARE:

·         Do your family and friends rock? Make rock crafts for them: http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/activities-games-and-crafts/rock-crafts

·         Put on a rock party for your friends. Here are some good kid-friendly songs to rock to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0IjoxH4brI

·         Help students study rocks by donating rocks to them. See the details at https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011NE/finalprogram/abstract_185659.htm

CAREERS:

Dig into a good career by checking out these websites about geology careers. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm

http://www.geosociety.org/links/careers.htm

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011NE/finalprogram/abstract_185659.htm

http://www.personal.kent.edu/~cschweit/Stark/whygeologymajor.htm

http://www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/geoscience-careers-brochure

Book a Book

There's more to a book than its cover. Open up the world of books in the following activities.

CONNECT:

·    Follow book history with this timeline: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/timeline-a-brief-history-of-publishing_b79150

·    Watch how books are made at http://vimeo.com/38681202

·    Get Free access to high-quality digital books from around the world at http://en.childrenslibrary.org/. Browse by age, genre, book length, character types, or even the color of a book's cover.

·    You can find out about your favorite author and illustrator here: http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/AuthorSite/index.html

·    Do you link comic books with chemistry? Well, the periodic table of comic books does: http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/

CREATE:

·    At http://storybird.com/ you can use your imagination (and your computer!) to create illustrated stories by yourself or with your family or friends. You can also read stories by other kids.

·    Continue the magic of Harry Potter at http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/ and http://www.kidsreads.com/kidsreads-gets-potter-fied-this-july

·    Is there a writer inside you? Here are directions for writing: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Children%27s-Book. And here are directions for making 8 types of books: http://www.makingbooks.com/freeprojects.shtml

·    Find out how children’s books are illustrated through this hands-on activity: http://www.wordplayhouse.com/2011/05/free-printable-for-kids-how-childrens-books-are-illustrated.html

CARE:

·    Books are special, so take good care of them. Here are some tips for teaching good book care: http://www.powerfulmothering.com/how-to-teach-kids-to-care-for-books/

·    Read Aloud (http://www.readaloud.org) is a campaign to get families to red aloud every day for 15 minutes. You can join the campaign – and you can read aloud to your friends and others as well.

·    There are many ways for you to donate books: to your library, to service clubs, and so on. The American Library Association lists groups that donate books internationally: http://www.ala.org/offices/iro/iroactivities/intlbookdonations

·    Become a book reviewer, and get your reviews published at http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/

CAREERS:

The video on making books illustrates just a few of the many jobs that are involved: from mechanic to distributor. There are also writers, illustrators, agents, editors, sales people, book store owners, plus all the behind-the-scenes people such as paper makers, ebook programmers, and so on. Read about some of those jobs at:

http://depts.washington.edu/engl/ugrad/publishjobs.php