This book is a treasure trove of information but at the same time is laid out in a way that isn't overwhelming for young children.
Summary from the publisher:
Get ready to be dazzled! This lively reference book for the younger set introduces a fascinating variety of Earth’s rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and shells--from granite to gold, marble to malachite, and conchs to clams.
Discover how rocks are formed, the three kinds of rocks, and the difference between rocks and minerals. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in art, architecture, industry, and science. Then journey to the oceans to explore seashells and the amazing animals that once inhabited them. Packed with more than 200 stunning photos, including closeups of each specimen, this colorful book showcases breathtaking natural sites such as the Giant’s Causeway and human-built structures such as the Great Wall of China.
Filled with fun facts and designed for interactive learning, the Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals, and Shells is sure to become a favorite with young rock and shell collectors and their parents!
Published by National Geographic Kids in 2021.
My thoughts as an educator:
This is a great introduction to rocks and shells. Very comprehensive! I love the questions included to encourage connections and deeper thinking. Kids will enjoy poring over this book to study the enormous variety of rocks and all the different objects rocks can become. It was interesting that sea shells are also included too. I predict this book will be the start of many pocket collections! There are activities at the back that could be used by educators or parents -- as well as a page showing the equipment geologists use which gave me ideas for a classroom learning centre.
Ages: 4 - 8
Grades: preschool – grade 2
Themes: science guide, rocks, minerals, shells
Activities:
Family connections: Choose a few pages to explore with your child every night. Talk about what you notice in the pictures and discuss your favourites!
Collect and Draw: Go outside and hunt for your own rocks! Create your own book of rocks by drawing pictures or photographing your collection. Think of interesting names for the items in your collection and label your pictures.
Explore and Identify: Make your own collection of rocks and shells. Can you find any of them in the book?
Rock Math: Rocks make perfect manipulative for outdoor math. Some activities I've done include sorting rocks outside by size or color, ordering them by size, measuring large rocks using snap cubes or rules, and even just a quick few minutes where we each count how many rocks we found.
Additional Resources for Educators:
Fantastic, Fun and Learning website has a great collection of interesting activities to try with rocks.
Beautiful blog
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