Nature-Based Learning: Crystals
No matter what age you are...crystals are pretty cool.
My four year old has been enamored by them for some time now. Crackable geodes were on his Christmas list (and did show up in his stocking!). Along with this is the daily crystal investigations that take place on the dining room table as he plays with one his favorite toys, the volcano explorer lego set.
While crystals have been part of our vocabulary for some time now, I realized the other day that we've never really gone beyond the "cool" factor. We never really studied them or talked about them in any scientific way.
As always, I don't plan much in advance but am amazed nevertheless at how topics unfold and expand when we get excited about something around here. That's kind of what happened this week with the topic of crystals. Once you start investigating something that evokes smiles and questions and a general, "wow" factor, it's hard to stop. Let me walk you through our ongoing chain reaction this week. It's funny how these things get started...
Well I suppose it all began last week when my cousin shared a science experiment her son had completed: DIY Crystal Landscape. Very cool and pretty. I kind of thought I'd file it away for future reference. Then on Friday my son inquired about the salt mines under Lake Erie that we drive past on the freeway. We briefly talked about the tunnels under the lake and kind of left it at that. The topic for the week was starting to reveal itself but I did not fully get it yet.
Sunday we were watching one of our favorite "Planet Earth" episodes: Caves. Our favorite part of this episode is right at the end when they talk about the amazing Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico. A cave just recently explored that is encrusted with crystals! This reminded me of the science project but I knew I would need to simplify. I wanted to grow crystals but I wanted to grow them fast! Once attention is fully on a subject I kind of feel the need to act fast, lest is be stolen by some other shiny object...or lego bad guy!
Here is how the rest of our Sunday and Monday went:
SALT, SUGAR, SNOW, GEODES
///////////// Bringing it closer to home we examined salt, sugar, snow, and the inside of the geodes with a magnifying glass.
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(full disclosure: ours were pretty weak because we didn't use Epsom Salt...make sure you use the right kind of salt and make sure it dissolves in the water all the way!)
GROW YOUR OWN SUGAR CRYSTALS (a.k.a. rock candy)
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(this is in progress and I can already see some crystals forming after only a day so far)
SNOW DAY
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We brought a couple clear storage containers full of snow inside to play with. We laid down a painters canvas in the dining room and brought out the lego vehicles, snacks, watercolors, and magnifying glass. Loads of fun! We got to bury fake crystals and dig them out WHILE playing with real crystals (snow!).
WHAT WE VIEWED:
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RICKY RHODES PHOTO DOCUMENTARY OF THE LAKE ERIE SALT MINES
VIDEO: SUGAR CANE - PADDOCK to PLATE
Well I hope that this inspires some investigation at your house! I will post a picture of our sugar crystals as they finish growing. Would love to hear of any other ideas on nature based learning so please share in the comments below. : )
