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by Cindy Leave a Comment

How To Teach a Really Great Middle School Geology Study

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It might sound pretty boring to consider teaching a middle school geology study. I mean, isn’t geology just about rocks…and aren’t rocks, well, just rocks?

Geology is WAY more than “just” rocks! It’s the study of everything about the earth’s crust – what it’s made of, how the amazing landforms were created, and what materials and processes make up various types of rocks.

You might be surprised to know just how much chemistry and physics go hand-in-hand with geology as you learn about the chemical formulas for minerals found in rocks or the physical power that erosion can use to carve the earth’s surface.

Geology is truly anything, but boring!

Middle School Geology

This trio has been the perfect combination for a well-rounded middle school geology study!

My middle schooler and I have spent the last couple of months studying geology. The curriculum we’ve used has been such a perfect combination that I couldn’t wait to share it with you!

I’ll admit right up front that I didn’t really plan for such a powerhouse curriculum combo when we began our study. Things just sort of fell into place so wonderfully and thoroughly that even I was shocked at how great the study has been!

This trio has been the perfect combination for a well-rounded middle school geology study!

This post contains affiliate links.

Middle School Geology Curriculum

After a trip out west this summer to visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and nearly everything in-between, I knew our school year had to begin with an overview of landforms to help us understand the incredibleness of what we saw. So, we began our study reading The Geology Book for a look at the physics of mountains, canyons, and more.

After a large-scale look at geology, we switched gears with Rocks and Dirt to learn about the composition of rocks, minerals, and soil through lots of gentle chemistry.

Nature study is always happening around here, so our weekly nature walks have focused on rocks using the creative ideas from NaturExplorers’ Hard as a Rock. Besides nature walks, this curriculum includes kid-friendly research projects that we’ve added in here and there, too.

The Geology Book

The Geology Book (Wonders of Creation)

 

The Geology Book is very much from a creation perspective. It covers major landforms with a heavy emphasis on how they concur with the worldwide flood. If you aren’t interested in this perspective, you will want to leave this book out.

This book is most appropriate for middle schoolers, but bright/interested elementary students or high schoolers who need a fairly quick overview could also benefit from it.

Rocks and Dirt

Rocks and Dirt

 

Rocks and Dirt is written by one of my favorite authors of creative middle and high school science materials. Ellen McHenry does a great job of breaking down upper level science for understanding.

This book covers the physical and chemical science of rocks, minerals, and soil from a neutral viewpoint. There are many hands-on and video options to add to the learning if you like.

Hard as a Rock

Hard as a Rock

 

Hard as a Rock is one of 19 topics in the NaturExplorers series. It offers more than 20 creative nature walk ideas for learning about rocks through hands-on explorations and nature journaling.

It also includes more than 40 ideas for indoor learning through kid-friendly research projects, experiments, and model-making. If you have a desire to connect your science study to other subjects, there are plenty of suggestions for that, too.

Beyond the Geology Curriculum

We happened to have a few really fun and helpful things on our homeschool supply shelves, too!

Our 100 Rock Specimens Set from Home Science Tools has been especially helpful! As we read through The Geology Book and learned about sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks that make up various landforms, were were able to observe specific examples of each. As we’ve been learning about various rock and mineral compositions in the Dirt and Rocks curriculum, we’ve been able to use a magnifying glass to see examples. And, the rock specimen kit has helped us to make rock identifications during our nature walks. It’s been so nice to have this set!

We also have a Mineral Test Kit and Short/Longwave UV Lamp from Home Science Tools Kits that have been perfect additions for some of the suggested activities.

Geology Field Trips

We haven’t had the chance to take any field trips yet (besides the trip out west that started this whole study), but there are three day trips on my to-do list before the end of the school year.

  • Mammoth Cave National Park or Carter Caves State Park. Both are in Kentucky (my home state) and we’ve been to them before, but it seems like a good time to tour a cave from a new perspective.
  • Falls of the Ohio State Park. This is an incredible area along the Ohio River in Indiana (just across the river from Louisville, KY) where you can view amazing fossils.
  • The Ark Encounter. This museum is only about an hour from our home and will be a great way to solidify some of the science we learned about how the worldwide flood shaped current geological features.

Audio and Visual Supplements

If you’re looking for some great creation science audios, the Jonathan Park audio series can’t be beat. We have really enjoyed the Awesome Science with Noah Justice videos, too.

Jonathan Park: The Adventure Begins - Series 1Jonathan Park: No Looking Back - Series 2Jonathan Park: The Winds of Change - Series 3Jonathan Park: The Hunt for Beowulf - Series 4Awesome ScienceExplore Yosemite and Zion National Parks with Noah JusticeExplore Arches National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument with Noah Justice (Awesome Science)Awesome Science - Mount St. Helens

 

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Last Updated: February 18, 2021 Filed Under: Creative Homeschooling, Middle School, Nature Study, Science & Nature, Unit Studies Tagged With: chemistry, hands-on science, minerals, physical science, rocks

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NaturExplorers guides are perfect for the 1st-8th grade homeschool, co-op or classroom. This highly adaptable curriculum series uses nature study as the starting point for science lessons that reach into every other subject and meet all learning styles.

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Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! L Happy birthday to my favorite girl in the world! Love you, @mahaylawest_1! 🥰
The breath of God produces ice,⠀ and the broad The breath of God produces ice,⠀
and the broad waters become frozen.⠀
He loads the clouds with moisture;⠀
he scatters his lightning through them.⠀
At his direction they swirl around⠀
over the face of the whole earth⠀
to do whatever he commands them.⠀
He brings the clouds to punish people,⠀
or to water his earth and show his love.⠀
Listen to this, Job;⠀
stop and consider God’s wonders. ⠀
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Job 37:10-14⠀
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Winter isn’t my favorite season, but an icy landscape is truly incredible to see. ❄️⠀
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Click the link in my bio for science curriculum to help you take advantage of snow and ice. ⠀
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When my boys were little, I loved reading these “letters from God” to them as blessings to start the day.
As I was sorting bookshelves earlier this month, I stumbled across this sweet book again. I decided the blessings are still as pertinent today for my bigger boy as they were years ago. So, we’re starting our day yet again with a quick, but powerful “letter from God” before jumping into our daily Bible studies.
Do you do anything special to start your day off on the right foot? I’d love to hear about it!
Click the link in my bio for a link to the book.
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Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. It’s cold, the days are dark, and everyone’s cooped up together 24/7. That’s a recipe for the winter blahs to march right into your house and wreak havoc on attitudes and motivation.⠀
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This year’s winter is unlike any other and those blahs may have actually settled in long before now. If you or your children are feeling down, anxious, or bored with school, are “at” each other constantly, bouncing off the walls, or tears and fighting are the norm…the blahs are there.⠀
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Let’s get you, your children, and your homeschool back on track. I’ll be teaching a Homeschool Masterclass on Thursday afternoon to help you kick the blahs to the curb. If you can attend live, come! If you can’t attend live, catch the replay!⠀
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Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’ Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’s true, you know. I’ve told my children for years that it only takes a nature walk to see God through His handiwork and to know that His promises are true.⠀
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When the world seems to be falling apart around you, the sun never stops shining. The seasons never stop moving. Without a single, solitary effort of human hands, the woodlands still buzz with life.⠀
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A student of nature can see the consistency in cycles and notice the incredible and creative intricacy of even the smallest specimen and be in awe that we truly serve a God who isn’t unaware of even one tiny detail in our world right now. ⠀
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Life kind of seems overwhelming, though, I know. Remember when I said my motto lately has been to just put one foot in front of the other to do the next right thing? Nature walks (even when it’s cold) never fail me as a right thing. ⠀
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Breathe, friend. Take a nature walk today and let God speak to your soul.⠀
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It might seem trite to post a winter picture book It might seem trite to post a winter picture book list right now, but I’m a big believer in keeping things as normal as possible in my home when things aren’t so normal otherwise.⠀
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It’s the principle of putting one foot in front of the other as you simply do the next right thing. Good books almost always can be a “next right thing” choice.⠀
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Even though I’m not homeschooling younger children anymore, I’ll probably never stop sharing wonderful picture book ideas with you. 🤓 I’ve spent way too many hours reading and collecting to ever stop loving them!⠀
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Eli and I may not be using these books right now, but they are still some of my favorites for winter reading. Whatever may be going on around you, the winter months are always a good time of year to get in lots of extra reading. Snuggling and hot chocolate are optional, but encouraged.⠀
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Click the link in my bio to find a blog post about these books + some of our favorite winter chapter books, too!⠀
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We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break! 🎉🎁🎂🏀🥰
I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍 I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍

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