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Discovering the Crystals That Give Rocks their Sparkle, Color, and Strength

Activity

Mineral Miners

Collect a handful of rocks outside and try to spot two different minerals. Minerals often look like small shiny spots or patches of color within the rock. Notice how they sparkle or feel different from the rest of the rock.

Science Seed

Minerals are natural crystals made of specific chemicals. When different minerals are combined together, they form rocks. For example, igneous rock granite is made of quartz, feldspar, and mica, while the sedimentary rock limestone is mostly made of calcite. Minerals can separate out and become visible when melted rock cools and hardens slowly, like Rhyolite. Or when minerals dissolved in water combine, like the calcite, gypsum or opal crystals found in the stalactites that form in caverns. Minerals give rocks their colors, shine, and patterns, creating the beautiful variety we see in nature.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Anywhere PEEP

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.