Earth Science Unit Study
You can have fun learning about earth science with your kids! My kids and I have completed two units on Earth Science (as part of our 4-year science cycle), once when my kids were 9- and 12-years old, and again when my kids were 13- and 16-years old. Our Earth Science unit studies have focused on read-alouds, free online playlists, and simple projects/field trips.
In this post, I will detail all of the resources and books we've used, to make it easy for you to have your own earth science unit study, too! This unit study can be broken into two main segments:
Months 1 and 2 - Geology, Rocks, Crystals, and Gems
Months 3 and 4 - Ecosystems, Ecology, and Weather
About the Resources
We've read and enjoyed all of the books listed here. I have included age codes to make it clear for which ages each book will be best suited. The age codes are: C = Children 4-9; Y = Youth 9-12; YA = Young Adults 12-15; A = Adults and the Later Teen Years (16-18).
Whenever possible, I tried to include biographies of earth scientists or enthusiasts in our studies, as these really help science come alive within the context of real people's lives. I also find it highly valuable to read my own books about whatever we're studying in science; that gives me fresh inspiration to share with my kids, helps me pursue my own education, and shows my kids that education is a lifelong journey.
The field trip and project suggestions are intended to give you some hands-on ideas for making the Earth Science unit even more engaging. With Earth Science, it is fairly easy to incorporate simple projects and field trips, but don't feel like you have to do it all. We didn't do all of the projects and field trips I've listed here, but they are listed as a jumping off point for you to find what is possible given your location and situation.
Months 1 and 2 - Geology, Rocks, Crystals, and Gems
Books
Rocks in His Head by Carol Otis Hurst (C, Y)
Let's Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans (C, Y)
The Magic Schoolbus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen (C, Y)
How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by Faith McNulty (C, Y)
Planet Earth Inside Out by Gail Gibbons (C, Y)
Rocks and Minerals by Basher Science (C, Y)
Ultimate Explorer Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by National Geographic Kids (C,Y)
Earth:The Elements by Ken Robbins (Y, YA)
Rocks and the People Who Love Them by Nel Yomtov (Y, YA) (take some time to look up the cool things in this book on the internet!)
CHAPTER BOOK: The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks by Donald Prothero (YA, A) (This book can be used as a "spine" book for YA and later teen years; take some time to look up the rocks in this book on the internet!)
CHAPTER BOOK: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (Y, YA, A) (FREE audio version on Librivox)
Free Online Earth Science Playlist
Exploring Earth Science by Mike Sammartano (YA, A) (this is a GREAT resource for YA and later teen learners!)
Projects
Go rock hunting (or get a rock kit), and then try to identify what types of rocks you've found
Encourage each kid to start a rock collection
Collect and polish rocks in rock tumbler (note: it takes several weeks to polish rocks)
Simple projects from More Mudpies to Magnets such as from Eart Explorations chapter (C, Y)
Projects from Geology Lab for Kids (C, Y, YA)
Simple projects from Growing Crystals by Ann Squire (C, Y)
Projects from Crystals and Crystal Gardens You Can Grow by Jean Stangl (C, Y, YA)
Field Trip Ideas
Mineral Museum (ask for a guided tour!)
Hiking, with some emphasis on observing rocks and geological formations along the way
Natural History Museum that has geology-related areas (ask for a guided tour!)
Month 3 and 4 - Ecosystems, Ecology, and Weather
Books
NOTE: There are a LOT of books listed here, because I've included all the books relating to ecosystems and weather that I could remember that we've ever liked! PLEASE don't stress or feel the need to read them all!
Ecology, Rivers and Wetlands, Water Cycle
One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky (Y, YA, A) (BBC Galapagos documentary would be a good follow-up to this book)
Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisolm (C, Y)
River of Life by Debbie Miller (C, Y)
Marshes and Swamps by Gail Gibbons (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Hollings (C, Y, YA)
Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor (C, Y, YA)
A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry (C, Y, YA)
Everglades by Jean Craighead George (C, Y, YA)
CHAPTER BOOK: The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt (C, Y)
The Sea, The Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle by Lynne Cherry (C, Y)
Seaside, Ocean
Eyewitness: Seashore by DK (C, Y, YA, A)
The Seaside Switch by Kathleen Kudlinski (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: Pagoo by Holling C. Hollings (C, Y, YA)
The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino (C, Y)
The Ocean World by Jacques Cousteau (C, Y, YA, A)
CHAPTER BOOK: Seabird by Holling C. Hollings (C, Y, YA)
How Deep is the Ocean by Kathleen Zoehfeld (C, Y)
Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh (C, Y)
Coral Reefs by Gail Gibbons (C, Y)
Dive to the Coral Reefs by New England Aquarium (C, Y)
Deserts, Mountains
Deserts by Cathryn Sill (C, Y)
Deserts by Gail Gibbons (C, Y)
Desert Voices by Byrd Baylor (C, Y, YA)
Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus by Barbara Bash (C, Y, YA)
CHAPTER BOOK: Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey (A; NOTE: This book contains some foul language and references to alcohol consumption)
Grand Canyon (National Park Explorers) by Sara Gilbert (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry (C, Y, YA)
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant (C, Y, YA)
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Y, YA, A)
Forests, Rainforests
Have You Seen Trees? by Joanne Oppenheim (C, Y)
A Forest's Life by Cathy and Robert Mania (Y, YA)
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry (C, Y)
In the Rainforest by Kate Duke (C, Y)
The Shaman's Apprentice by Lynne Cherry (C, Y, YA)
A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk by Deborah Ruddell and Joan Rankin (C, Y, YA)
Tell Me, Tree by Gail Gibbons (C, Y)
A Walk in the Boreal Forest by Rebecca Johnson (C, Y)
Redwoods by Jason Chin (C, Y, YA)
CHAPTER BOOK: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (Y, YA)
Prairies, Wind
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (C, Y) (Netflix Boy Who Harnessed the Wind movie would be a good follow-up to this book; be aware that the movie has content that may be disturbing to young children)
Out on the Prairie by Donna Bateman (C, Y)
I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb (C, Y)
Close to the Wind by Peter Malone (Y, YA)
CHAPTER BOOK: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (C, Y)
Night in the Country by Cynthia Rylant (C, Y, YA)
Monsoon by Uma Krishnaswami (C, Y)
Snow, Antarctic
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (C, Y)
Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky (C, Y)
Antarctic Ice by Jim Mastro and Norbert Wu (C, Y)
Sea of Ice: The Wreck of the Endurance by Monica Kulling (C, Y)
Black Whiteness: Admiral Byrd Alone in the Antarctic by Robert Burleigh (Y, YA)
CHAPTER BOOK: Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong (Y, YA, A)
CHAPTER BOOK: Antarctic Journal by Jennifer Owings Dewey (C, Y, YA, A)
CHAPTER BOOK: Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater (C, Y)
CHAPTER BOOK: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (YA, A)
Earthquakes, Volcanoes
Earthquakes by David Harrison (C, Y)
Earthquakes by Seymour Simon (C, Y)
Volcanoes by Franklin Branley (C, Y)
Volcanoes! Mountains of Fire by Eric Arnold (C, Y)
Volcanoes by Seymour Simon (C, Y)
Volcanic Eruptions by Ann Squire (C, Y, YA)
Fast Forward Volcano by Peter Dennis (Y, YA)
Projects
Simple projects from More Mudpies to Magnets such as from Weather Watchers chapter (C, Y)
Make homemade kites and fly them on a windy day
Make baking soda/vinegar volcanoes (rather than using flour to create a volcano, we prefer to do it outside using mud!)
Make a collection of natural objects from different habitats
Field Trip Ideas
Visit/hike in different ecosystems, such as wetlands, deserts, forests, mountains, etc
Nature study in your own local ecosystem
Putting It All Together
This earth science unit study can easily take a semester or longer to complete. The most important thing is to keep it light and fun, rather than turning it into an "assignment" for the kids. Allow your children to participate as much or as little as they choose, and focus on building your own enthusiasm which you can share with your kids.
Relax and take as long as you need to complete the unit study. If one particular topic/person/place captures your child's interest, pause there and linger for awhile, digging as deep as your child's interests reach. Be open to finding other ways to include your children's own unique interests into the unit study, such as through art projects, lego creations, or music.
Have fun learning about Earth Science together!
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