Cindy Blobaum

“Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-on Activities to explore the Earth” by Cindy Blobaum is an Activity book that is both scientific and interactive. For example, in the first chapter the author does a great job of explaining what geology is by identifying how people use products made from minerals every day without realizing it. Children will realize how important natural resources are to our everyday lives. Then the author has the reader “mine” chocolate chips from a chocolate chip cookie show more with a toothpick to illustrate how minerals are embedded in the natural landscape. This is followed by a discussion of how constant mining and the use of dynamite has destroyed landscapes all over the country. The author then poses the dilemma of being ecologically conscious of protecting natural resources as well as recycling.
Also, at the bottom of the page, the author also included the “Language Link” component where the word “geology” is broken down to the Greek roots “Ge” meaning “earth” and “logy” meaning “the study of.” This interdisciplinary information is very valuable in covering the California Standards since it is addressing both Science and Language Arts standards. In addition the illustrations include some humor. For instance, the illustrator drew an aluminum can and personified it. The Aluminum Can states, “I think I Can . . .” In this case, the author included a pun to illustrate the versatility of aluminum since it can be recycled into other products.
In addition, the book includes 50 hands-on activities that children can do. Some of the activities are very simple, such as collecting a small sample of rain water and adding detergent to it, then comparing that rain water with tap water with the same amount of detergent in it. The water sample with the fewer amounts of minerals will produce the most amounts of suds which is called “soft water.” Other activities such as “Pump Away,” require more items which include aquarium stones, a large rectangular clear plastic container, a watering can, and another person to assist in the activity. I thought the science activities were very well thought out since the information was expanded to include Ecological and Language teaching standards.
Ages 4th grade and Up show less

I would only use this book as a supplemental resource for my higher level readers. I think the layout is completely confusing, and the content is too high for grade level readers. I would recommend using this for 3-5 grades.

Young Reader Reaction: A teacher used this with her class and it worked fairly well.

Adult Reader Reaction: The text was easy to follow, the content was good and projects were very interesting. The topic is well researched and the projects well thought out.

Pros: Good content and great activities will engage kids in learning about gravity.

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This is a great book to teach children about the roles of honey bees and allows them to learn more about them by building and engineering projects to give them the role of being a beekeeper.
Genre: Informational. This book gives updated information and related pictures and acivities that correspond with the role of being a bee. This is an insect that children can relate to with the outside world.
Media: Paint, watercolor, Pen, pencil