Saturday, September 28, 2013

Rock & Mineral Study Kits

It just occurred to me that I haven't mentioned what study kits we have been using to conduct our rock and mineral labs.

After extensive searching this past summer, I ordered the following kits from Home Science Tools. I have been 100 percent happy with them. Be sure to check the Web for a coupon before ordering!

Also, if your community has a cave nearby, check their gift shop for specimens.

Rock Study Kit, 15 Specimens
Rock Study Kit, 15 Specimens

Mineral Study Kit, 15 Specimens
Mineral Study Kit, 15 Specimens

Geology Field Trip in a Bag - We use these specimens for general sorting, etc. activities where it's not imperative that we know what the specimens are. We also use them for activities involving water. The samples from the other kits have paper identification tags attached to them.
Geology Field Trip in a Bag - We use these specimens for general sorting, etc. activities where it's not imperative that we know what the specimens are. We also use them for activities involving water. The samples from the other kits have paper identification tags attached to them.

Earth Science: Geology, Unit 4

Properties of Rocks

Studying the properties of rocks was an absolute blast this week! Through a variety of hands-on labs, Tessa learned about the colors and patterns of rocks and minerals, measured their sizes and weights, and performed tests to determine their hardness and buoyancy.


Tuesday

Tessa sorted rocks and minerals by various characteristics of her choosing.
Tessa sorted rocks and minerals by various characteristics of her choosing.

Tessa has long been infatuated with rocks. For years, she has picked up "special" rocks on our walks to and from the mailbox. So, for the "Rock Hounds" portion of this lesson, she went straight to her "rock garden" to collect samples.
Tessa has long been infatuated with rocks. For years, she has picked up "special" rocks on our walks to and from the mailbox. So, for the "Rock Hounds" portion of this lesson, she went straight to her "rock garden" to collect samples.

Wednesday

Following Monday

After arranging a selection of rocks by her perception of smallest to largest, Tessa measured the rocks and recorded their actual sizes. To do so, she wrapped pieces of yarn around their widest points, then measured the cut lengths. She was surprised to learn that her perception was drastically off in some cases.
After arranging a selection of rocks by her perception of smallest to largest, Tessa measured the rocks and recorded their actual sizes. To do so, she wrapped pieces of yarn around their widest points, then measured the cut lengths. She was surprised to learn that her perception was drastically off in some cases. 

Afterward, Tessa used a balance to weigh the same rocks and recorded their weights.
Afterward, Tessa used a balance to weigh the same rocks and recorded their weights. 

Following Tuesday

Tessa loved performing scratch tests to determine the hardness of a sampling of minerals. She attempted to scratch them first with her fingernail (hardness of 2.5), then a copper penny (hardness of 3) and finally an iron nail (harness of 5).
Tessa loved performing scratch tests to determine the hardness of a sampling of minerals. She attempted to scratch them first with her fingernail (hardness of 2.5), then a copper penny (hardness of 3) and finally an iron nail (harness of 5).

Following Wednesday

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Medieval Times, Lesson 5

Islam

Tessa learned the origins and basics of Islam.


Wednesday

Thursday
  • Read "The Story of Islam" (pages 32-41) from What I Believe by Alan Brown.
  • Read Ramadan by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi.

* HO = History Odyssey

Friday, September 20, 2013

Medieval Times, Lesson 4

Monks of the Christian Church

Tessa learned that Christian monks from the Middle Ages had to follow many rules and were responsible for the tedious work of copying and creating manuscripts with intricate drawings. After crafting her own illuminated letter, she understood a little better just how much work that entailed. 


Wednesday

Thursday
The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story about St. Patrick is tongue-in-cheek and very much just for fun. There are much better books about St. Patrick available (perhaps Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola or St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons). I chose this one because it was recommended in The Story of the World Activity Book, readily available and we hadn't already read it.


Friday
I really wanted to read Marguerite Makes a Book by Bruce Robertson before our illuminated letter craft. I had it on hold at the library for weeks. Of course, my number came up while we were on vacation earlier this month, so I missed my chance. I made do with Magic in the Margins: A Medieval Tale of Bookmaking, which wasn't bad...just wasn't what I wanted.

Tessa began by sketching a pattern for her illuminated letter. Then, she filled it in with Prismacolor colored pencils. Our set included a nice metallic gold. After diligently working on her letter for an hour, I took pity on Tessa's cramped hand and helped her with the final detail work. I used a metallic gold Jelly Roll pen to outline the gold sections. We took turns adding the gold dots.
Tessa began by sketching a pattern for her illuminated letter. Then, she filled it in with Prismacolor colored pencils. Our set included a nice metallic gold. After diligently working on her letter for an hour, I took pity on Tessa's cramped hand and helped her with the final detail work. I used a metallic gold Jelly Roll pen to outline the gold sections. We took turns adding the gold dots.  

Tessa's completed illuminated letter. Tessa was really into this project, which surprised me a bit. She was quite proud of her work and couldn't wait to show Daddy.
Tessa's completed illuminated letter. Tessa was really into this project, which surprised me a bit. She was quite proud of her work and couldn't wait to show Daddy.

Lucky for us, the illuminated letter modeled in "The Middle Ages: Come and Discover My World" was the letter "T"...perfect for a girl whose name begins with "T". I thought the vines and leaves pictured were beyond Tessa's skill level, so I had her draw some simple flowers instead.
Lucky for us, the illuminated letter modeled in "The Middle Ages: Come and Discover My World" was the letter "T"...perfect for a girl whose name begins with "T". I thought the vines and leaves pictured were beyond Tessa's skill level, so I had her draw some simple flowers instead.

* HO = History Odyssey