Rockology

I have decided to rename the science of geology to "rockology" in honor of one of our 4th grade students. When asked if the students could remember what kind of scientist I was, this student said, "She's a rockologist!" She's correct. I am a ROCKOLOGIST and I got to share my love of rocks with students yesterday and today.

We all marveled at the stories rocks "tell" of their amazing travels.

Some rocks were once sandy beaches. Some oozed from volcanoes as lava flows, while others were stuck as magma inside. Some were extruded from underwater volcanoes to create ocean floor, and others came to rest quietly as sediment on the ocean floor. Some once were alive as coral and sponges on reefs. Some were thrown as ash and glass from explosive volcanoes. All were found in Minnesota - the former host to great old volcanoes, seas, and coastlines.

All of the rocks, even the biotite-garnet-schist that was 3,600,000,000 years old that was squished and partially melted as ocean floor and its sediments were dragged beneath the continent, now can be held in the palm of a student's hand. Each rock, with the passage of long periods of time and various amounts of weathering, heat and pressure, can become the other.

My wish is for the students to go home and tell their parents and siblings about the stories rocks hold. People who find joy in plain old rocks cannot help but hold wonder in their hearts for the world at large.

The best quotes of the day were:

"This was fun! When can we do it again?"

"My mom is only a few years younger than that rock."