How the Earth Works 60 Fun Activities for Exploring Volcanoes, Fossils, Earthquakes, and More

by O'Brien-Palmer, Michelle

• ISBN13: 9781556524424
• ISBN10: 1556524420
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press

Summary

For ages 6-9. Earth science comes alive for children 6 to 9 through 60 engrossing games, activities, and experiments. Kids core sample a filled cupcake and discover plate tectonics by floating graham cracker continents on a molten mantle of molasses. They learn how heat changes rocks by seeing how separate ingredients disappear when they bake Rice Krispie Treats. More activities show what causes earthquakes and what kinds of buildings resist their force. Growing sugar and salt crystals, fossilising plastic insects, and modelling a variety of volcanoes add to the learning and the fun. Eight of the activities are tasty as well as informative. Silly songs help children remember new words and concepts, and a resource section gives inexpensive sources for rocks, minerals, and fossils. All the projects have been tested in homes and schools to make sure they are safe, effective, and fun.

Author Biography

Michelle O’Brien-Palmer is the author of Sense-Abilities, Healthy Me, Watch Me Grow, and several Scholastic teacher guides as well as other books. A science educator, consultant, and specialist in educational curriculum development, she lives in Seattle, Washington.

Table of Contents

Introduction for Parents and Teachers	p. 1
My Earth Journal	p. 3
How Earth Is Put Together	p. 5
Best Guess--Earth Trivia Cards	p. 10
Earth's Inside--Like an Egg?	p. 14
Spin Your Earth	p. 16
A Jarful of Layers	p. 18
Solid and Liquid--Like the Mantle	p. 20
Core Sampling Cupcake	p. 22
Slow-Floating Plates	p. 24
Make a Model--Earth's Crust	p. 26
From One to Seven--Amazing Continents	p. 28
Baking Mountains and Valleys	p. 30
Fold-a-Mountain	p. 32
Fold, Dome, Block, and Volcano	p. 34
Match Up--What's That Continent?	p. 37
Fantastic Fossils	p. 41
Fossil Fact or Fiction	p. 46
Fossil Collection Starter	p. 50
Folding Up--Fossils Uncovered	p. 54
Fossil Find	p. 56
Take a Closer Look I--Shark Sharp	p. 58
Take a Closer Look II--Snail Comparisons	p. 60
Take the Touch Test--Dino Fossils	p. 62
Fossilized Insects--Set in Soap	p. 64
Glacial Freeze	p. 66
Mold and Cast Fossils	p. 68
Trace Fossils--Form a Burrow	p. 70
Name That Fossil! Bingo	p. 72
Fossil Fuel Products Scavenger Hunt	p. 75
Revealing Rocks and Minerals	p. 77
Best Guess--Rocks and Minerals Trivia Cards	p. 82
Rocks and Minerals Collection Starter	p. 86
Mineral Identification I--Scratch It!	p. 92
Mineral Identification II--Streak It!	p. 95
Mineral Identification III--Is It Magnetic?	p. 97
Mineral Identification IV--Dip It!	p. 99
Favorite Ingredients--Rocks and Cookies	p. 101
Igneous Chocolates--"Made by Fire!"	p. 103
Igneous Rock Collection Card	p. 104
It's Sedimentary! Snap a Snickers	p. 106
Sedimentary Rock Collection Card	p. 107
Metamorphic Bars	p. 108
Metamorphic Rock Collection Card	p. 110
Name That Rock! Bingo	p. 112
Crystals and Gems	p. 117
Crystals and Gems Fact or Fiction	p. 122
Crystals and Gems Collection Starter	p. 126
3-D Fun! Desktop Crystal Shape	p. 127
Double Image? Curious Crystals	p. 129
Take a Closer Look I--Amazing Amethyst	p. 130
Take a Closer Look II--Everyday Crystals	p. 131
Alum Crystal Recipe	p. 132
Rock Candy Crystal Recipe	p. 134
Crystal Needle Recipe	p. 136
Salt Crystal Recipe	p. 138
My Birthstone Wheel	p. 140
Birthstone Cards	p. 143
Earthquakes and Volcanoes	p. 149
Best Guess--Volcano Trivia Cards	p. 156
Earthquake Fact or Fiction	p. 159
Plate Movements	p. 162
Inside a Volcano--A Triorama	p. 164
Volcanoes--Building Pressure	p. 166
Volcanoes--Flowing Fountain	p. 167
Erupting Volcano	p. 168
Take a Closer Look--Volcanic Froth	p. 169
Pressure and Release	p. 170
What Magnitude? Refer to Richter	p. 172
Waves of Motion I--Color Ripples	p. 174
Waves of Motion II--Rippling Rope	p. 175
Solid Foundations?	p. 177
Shake-a-Quake!	p. 178
Chapter-by-Chapter Content and Skills Guide	p. 179
Answers	p. 180
Product and Service Information	p. 181
Learn More About It!	p. 182
Acknowledgments	p. 184
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.