Earth Science Week is coming up on us quick, with October 14-20 being the official days to enjoy all things Earth Science related. In everyday life, it might not be as easy to think of things to celebrate during this awesome week of learning. Luckily, there are lots of ideas for you to enjoy online, which will help you and your children learn quite a bit during this specialized week for education. These ten ideas will help make your life easier when it comes to choosing projects to make learning science fun while helping your children grasp the subject and understand more about their planet. So, make sure to make this amazing week lots of fun with all of the cool things you can plan to do.
1. Collect Rocks
If you have kids, then collecting rocks is probably a routine thing for you. However, it is also a great learning experience for kids and adults alike. During Earth Science Week, you might want to make rock finding a bit more specific. Ask children to find different colors, shapes, and sizes. Then, when you get the rocks home you can try to identify the top of rocks that you have found. This can be exciting. There are lots of charts online to help you out too. If you want to go a step further, then try polishing the rocks in a rock polisher. This will allow kids to discover what might be hiding beneath the surfaces of the rocks. If you don’t know what to do with the rocks afterwards then consider a craft. Kids can make pet rocks if they want to hang on to the rock. If not, then you might consider painting them and adding a special message. Then, you place the item in a random place for someone to pick up. There are groups that enjoy such activities, which might introduce you to a new community.
2. Cloud In A Jar
A cloud in a jar is a great way to share some knowledge with your kids. All you need for this task is a jar with a lid, hot water, a match, and ice cubes. Fill the jar with hot water from the tap until it is about 1/3 of the way full. From there, you place the match in the jar and hold it for a little while. When the air is heated, place the lid on to lock in the warmth, then place ice cubes on the lid. The water will then begin to condensate, which will allow you to easily see a cloud forming within the jar. This project is great for kids of all ages and will help them to understand the basics of clouds.
3. Water Conservation
Water Conservation is a great thing to teach children during Earth Science Week. After all, it is incredibly important to educate the whole family on ways to be kinder to planet Earth. One way to show children how water is wasted is through a tooth brushing scenario. Place a bucket in the sink and let the faucet fun as the children brush. Generally, five minutes is a good rule for brushing. When you’re finished, remove the bucket and set it aside. Then, place another bucket in the sink. This time only turn on the water when it is needed. Remove this bucket from the sink when the five minutes is over. Then compare the buckets. This might even spark conversations on new ways to conserve water in the home.
4. Explore Soil
You might not realize that your home is most likely sitting on a wide variety of different soils. It might be hard to see the variety of soils from just looking at the surface of your yard. You can easily gain a sample of the soil beneath by hammering a PVC pipe into the ground. Then slowly bring it out and use something to push the content of your pipe onto a white surface. This will allow you to monitor the different types of soil behind you. You can even do a bit of research on each one. Apart from that, you might want to look into exploring soil in your area or ordering a variety of different kinds to look at online.
5. Grow Your Own Geode Crystals
Geode crystals are a lot of fun to look at. They’re sparkly, colorful and exciting. However, most of us don’t have the chance to check them out in person. Thus, growing your own geodes might be a fun task to try out during Earth Science Week. There are actually many ways for you to pull this off, which will add to the fun of your task. You can even try different methods to make a scientific observation. There are also kits you can buy to make it a little easier to figure things out. Kids will love the project though, especially since they will be able to make geodes in a wide variety of colors.
6. Make a Weather Vane
The wind plays a major role in the world we live in, so make sure to toss in a lesson or two about wind. One easy project for kids involving wind is to make a wind vane. This will show which direction the wind is moving in, which can help you predict the weather a little bit better. This is a very easy task to pull off too and can easily be made from items in your recycling bin. For instance, the arrow can be made out of paper and a straw. With a quick staple or two, you’ll have the perfect start to your project. Then, you will need to connect the arrow to something rigid, like a stick or skewer. This item will then be placed to a base, like an oatmeal container, which will then be securely attached to the ground. From there, use paper to label north, south, east and west. Once the vane is up, kids can look at the direction the vane is going to have some insight about the weather.
7. Learn About Fossils
Fossils might be one of the most exciting things for most kids and even some adults. These ancient markers allow us to take a glimpse into things that once walked the planet. That is why learning about fossils is a must for Earth Science Week. You might start by making your own fossils. There are many craft ideas for this, which will help children understand how fossils came to be. Apart from that, you can purchase kits that will allow children to be a paleontologist for the day as they get to dig up interesting things. You might consider going to a museum to check out some fossils too. While there, take note of what you see and research the plant or animal that they came from when you get home.
8. Grow Something
Part of Earth science is the plants that grow on the planet, so why not take the time to grow something special during this time. If you’re into gardening, then now is the perfect time to plant bulbs that will sprout up in the springtime. If the ground isn’t frozen yet, then you might consider planting other things, especially if they have a high survival rate. However, if planting outdoors isn’t possible bring the fun inside. You can easily start a herb garden or grow plants that thrive inside. You can also stick with classical projects like planting a bean sprout in a plastic bag. While working with planting, you might observe how plants help the planet survive. Your little project won’t just teach children about plants and our relationship with them, but it’ll help make the planet a great place.
9. Talk about Climate Change
In today’s world, climate change is a pretty big conversation. It seems to be all over the news and might be confusing for kids, especially since many people are arguing over its validity. One of the best ways to approach climate change with kids is to come up with examples to offer them. Older kids might benefit from videos of scientists talking about climate change, so they can hear the facts without any political agenda. Apart from explaining the crisis, you might want to talk about ways to do your part. You might even come up with a family plan or goals to help children get the hang of living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
10. Enjoy Media
There are actually a lot of amazing media programs that you can watch with your kids to help them learn more about Earth Science. This is perfect for lessons that you can’t cheaply do a project for. If you’re working with younger kids, then there is a wide selection of shows to choose from. Bill Nye the Science Guy and the Magic School Bus are just examples that can be streamed with ease and are engaging. Older children might enjoy programs like National Geographic or those from the Discovery Channel. You should be able to find a little something for everyone which will encourage learning and curiosity.
Earth Science Week can be a fun time for everyone, even if you aren’t aware that you have an interest in science. These fun ideas might help you learn a lot in the long run which will allow you to learn more about your planet. All in all, the projects will definitely make learning a lot more excited for the whole family.
