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

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, “fossilizing” plastic insects, and modeling 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. Experiments and projects explore the earth's structure, features, and changing landscape. Copyright 5 Contents 8 Introduction for Parents and Teachers 10 My Earth Journal 12 How Earth Is Put Together 14 1. Best Guess—Earth Trivia Cards 19 2. Earth's Inside—Like an Egg? 23 3. Spin Your Earth 25 4. A Jarful of Layers 27 5. Solid and Liquid—Like the Mantle 29 6. Core Sampling Cupcake 31 7. Slow-Floating Plates 33 8. Make a Model—Earth's Crust 35 9. From One to Seven—Amazing Continents 37 10. Baking Mountains and Valleys 39 11. Fold-a-Mountain 41 12. Fold, Dome, Block, and Volcano 43 13. Match Up—What's That Continent? 46 Fantastic Fossils 50 1. Fossil Fact or Fiction 55 2. Fossil Collection Starter 59 3. Folding Up—Fossils Uncovered 63 4. Fossil Find 65 5. Take a Closer Look I—Shark Sharp 67 6. Take a Closer Look II—Snail Comparisons 69 7. Take the Touch Test—Dino Fossils 71 8. Fossilized Insects—Set in Soap 73 9. Glacial Freeze 75 10. Mold and Cast Fossils 77 11. Trace Fossils—Form a Burrow 79 12. Name That Fossil! Bingo 81 13. Fossil Fuel Products Scavenger Hunt 84 Revealing Rocks and Minerals 86 1. Best Guess—Rocks and Minerals Trivia Cards 91 2. Rocks and Minerals Collection Starter 95 3. Mineral Identification I—Scratch It! 101 4. Mineral Identification II—Streak It! 104 5. Mineral Identification III—Is It Magnetic? 106 6. Mineral Identification IV—Dip It! 108 7. Favorite Ingredients—Rocks and Cookies 110 8. Igneous Chocolates—"Made by Fire!" 112 9. Igneous Rock Collection Card 113 10. It's Sedimentary! Snap a Snickers 115 11. Sedimentary Rock Collection Card 116 12. Metamorphic Bars 117 13. Metamorphic Rock Collection Card 119 14. Name That Rock! Bingo 121 Crystals and Gems 126 1. Crystals and Gems Fact or Fiction 131 2. Crystals and Gems Collection Starter 135 3. 3-D Fun! Desktop Crystal Shape 136 4. Double Image? Curious Crystals 138 5. Take a Closer Look I—Amazing Amethyst 139 6. Take a Closer Look II—Everyday Crystals 140 7. Alum Crystal Recipe 141 8. Rock Candy Crystal Recipe 143 9. Crystal Needle Recipe 145 10. Salt Crystal Recipe 147 11. My Birthstone Wheel 149 12. Birthstone Cards 152 Earthquakes and Volcanoes 158 1. Best Guess—Volcano Trivia Cards 165 2. Earthquake Fact or Fiction 168 3. Plate Movements 171 4. Inside a Volcano—A Triorama 173 5. Volcanoes—Building Pressure 175 6. Volcanoes—Flowing Fountain 176 7. Erupting Volcano 177 8. Take a Closer Look—Volcanic Froth 178 9. Pressure and Release 179 10. What Magnitude? Refer to Richter 181 11. Waves of Motion I—Color Ripples 183 12. Waves of Motion II—Rippling Rope 184 13. Solid Foundations? 186 14. Shake-a-Quake! 187 Chapter-by-Chapter Content and Skills Guide 188 Answers 189 Product and Service Information 190 Learn More About It! 191 Acknowledgments 193 Introduction for parents and teachers -- My Earth journal -- How the Earth is put together -- Fantastic fossils -- Reavealing rocks and minerals -- Cystals and gems -- Earthquakes and volcanoes -- Chapter-by chapter content and skills guide -- Answers -- Product and service information -- Learn more about it.