Rockhounding With Kids

Rockhounding is a term for the the non professional study and collection of rocks and minerals found in a natural environment. Rock collecting is a fun and simple way to get your kids outside and moving and it's an excellent way to teach them about local geology. It's a hobby my dad shared with my siblings and myself when we were kids and now I love doing it with my own kids. In this post I will share how to put together your own rockhounding kit and some tips for getting started.

Putting Together Your Rockhounding Kit:

Your rockhounding kit can be pretty simple and doesn't require anything too expensive. You will need:
-A box of some type for storing specimens in. An old shoe box or cigar type box will work great.
-A small shovel
-A small hammer or rock pick
-A spray bottle and a toothbrush for cleaning specimens.
-An old colander for sifting through sand and dirt.

-A Rock and Mineral Journal (you can grab a printable one here)

How To Rockhound:

Once you have your kit put together, pack a picnic lunch or a snack and set out on a nature hike to hunt for neat rock and mineral specimens.

Have your kids search and dig for rocks and minerals. When they find one that they like have them clean it off with the spray bottle and toothbrush and add it to your collection box.

And that's it! You can extend the learning by trying to identify your specimens after you get home using a local rock and mineral guide, or there are lots of free online resources for rock and mineral identification. Here are a few of my favorite online resources:
-Mineral Identification
-Mineral Database
-Mineral Photo Database and Identification Guide

You can even make your own simple rock and mineral identification kit with items mostly found around the house, for instructions click here.

If you enjoyed this post, check out:
-Make Your Own Mineral Identification Kit
-Our Geology Hike

*And be sure to grab a printable Rock and Mineral Journal!

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