Rock Tumbling is an excellent method of teaching the physical sciences to students in high school. It helps them to understand geology, the process of formation of rocks and the process of erosion. They`ll also develop an fascination for the earth and science in general. Tumbling is also a way to help children identify visual characteristics like color, shape texture, and distinguishing marks.
Why the Most Forward Thinking Schools Are Using Rock Tumbling to Illustrate
A great way for high school students to discover the physical science is to perform experiments that require them to manipulate objects. Tumbling rocks is a fantastic exercise that allows them to be outside and play using simple tools and materials. The majority of rock tumbling machines comprise of two major parts: the motor and the barrel. These two components work together to crush stones and smooth the surface of them. Tumbling rocks with abrasive grit is very popular among jewelry, craft, and lapidary hobbyists. It is a great way to bring out the shine and color of a rock that is not polished or mineral. It`s also a favorite sport for those who like looking for natural stone specimens in the wilderness. The tumbling of stones from the ground is an excellent way to connect with nature and see the beauty that is hidden in every piece of stone.
What Rocks to Tumble?
If you plan to teach rocks tumbling as a part of the high school science curriculum It is best to only supply rocks that are suitable for tumbling. This will provide you with the best results and ensure that your students get excellent experience studying the minerals and how they work together to produce the rocks that they tumble. A good place to start is by testing the toughness of the rock. In the ideal scenario, all the rocks in your tumbler must be similar in hardness, ranging between 6-8 according to the Mohs Harness scale (see below for more details).). Another crucial test to take is to feel the texture in the surface of the rock. In general, you should look for rocks that have smooth surfaces without or minimal granularity. It`s pretty simple to determine if you are able to do it yourself: you just need to rub a few rocks together and look for any sandy or gritty particles which fall off of the surface. This is a reliable way to tell if the rock is smooth and is suitable to tumble.
How to Tumble Rocks
Utilizing rock tumbling as an activity in a high science classes at school can be a great way to engage students. Before you begin, be sure to understand how to properly tumble rocks. First, decide what type of stones you will use to tumble. This will determine the is the best grit for you along with the dimensions of your tumbler as well as the length of time each step of your process is expected to take. Next step to polish the rough rock into smooth, round gems. This is done using an abrasive grit made from either silicon or carbide. After you have found the right size of grit, put it into your rock tumbler at least for one week. It`s a good idea to check the barrel each seven days to check what the stone is performing during the tumbling process and polishing.
Tumbling Activities
Tumbling on rocks is a fantastic way to introduce kids in the field of physical science. It is also a great activity for the entire family. It is crucial is to be certain that the tumbler is being used with care. It`s powered by electricity, and is made up of moving parts, and requires constant supervision by an adult. If you're serious about rock tumbling; these best-of-the-best rock tumblers are a must-have for your collection To make this activity a success students must be aware of erosion and weathering in the world of geology. This can be accomplished through an interactive simulation that allows them to take part in and observe this process. They`ll have to assess visual characteristics such as texture, color and shape and distinguishing marks, length and mass. They may require calipers for this purpose. More hard rocks may take longer to tumble than soft rocks Therefore, be sure to give them similar as their relative hardness in the Mohs scale. Limestone, shale and marble are ideal. They`re well cemented and soft enough to allow for some wear over the course of a few days of tumbling.