How to Choose the Best Rock Kits for Your Children or Students
My Rockin’ Collection Series (Deluxe
kits)
The My Rockin’ Collection series is our deluxe line of rock and mineral kits. This series is perfect for anyone who loves geology. These deluxe kits feature 10 or 15 (depending on the kit) large mineral and rock samples, a hand magnifier, and identification cards. The mineral kit also includes white and black streak plates for testing. The contents are housed in a sturdy storage box with foam padding and identification stickers below the foam so you can see if you properly identify the samples. The box closes with a snug fit so that every sample stays in its own section.
My Rockin Collection Junior Series (Tube
kits)
The My Rockin’ Collection Junior kits are a perfect introductory kit for beginning geologists, home school families, and school classrooms. Each kit comes with 10 samples and an identification flyer with details about each sample and a photo. The minerals and rocks included in these junior kits are also included in the My Rockin Collection Deluxe kits and the School Edition kits. The downloadable flow charts in the Dig into Geology section of our site are applicable to these kits. The My Rockin’ Collection Junior series is recommended for ages 6 to adult. Children should be able to read for maximum benefit. See more details about the Junior kits now.
Rock Detectives Series
The Rock Detectives are the perfect mineral and rock kits for kids who are just starting out in geology. Each kit contains 6 rocks or minerals (one kit has 7), a hand magnifier, and a printable mini-CD with 30 pages of geological information, rock and mineral identification activities, puzzles, experiments, projects, coloring pages, creative writing exercises and fun! The Rock Detectives kits help children become involved in scientific exploration and learning. These kits are also popular for home school lessons for elementary age children. See these kits in action in this video about the Rock Detectives series. The Rock Detectives series is recommended for ages 6 to 12. Children should be able to read for maximum benefit. Adult supervision is required for some of the experiments. See more details about the Rock Detectives now.
School Edition My Rockin’ Collection
Series
Mini Me Geology offers a line of rock and mineral collections for teachers, home school groups, school classrooms, and universities. Each rock or mineral kit comes with five (5) sets of samples and identification fliers. Each set of rocks or minerals has 10 samples so you get 50 samples total. The samples and flyers are the same as rocks and minerals in the My Rockin Collection Deluxe Junior kits. The downloadable flow charts in the Dig into Geology section of our site are applicable to these kits. The School Edition My Rockin’ Collection series is recommended for ages 6 to adult. Children should be able to read for maximum benefit. See more details about the School Edition kits now.
Rock and Mineral Types
Once you have decided on a line of kits, you may choose one or more of the kits within that line. To help you choose, following is a little information about each type of kit:
Igneous Rocks – Igneous rocks are made by volcanoes and have unique textures and forms. Our kits feature both intrusive rocks (formed below ground) and extrusive rocks (formed outside the volcano). Examples include basalt, granite, and obsidian.
Sedimentary Rocks – Sedimentary rocks form in deserts, rivers, or oceans. These rocks may have interesting patterns, textures, and fossil and shell traces. Examples include sandstone, limestone, and coquina.
Metamorphic Rocks – Metamorphic rocks were formerly igneous or sedimentary rocks or other metamorphic rocks that changed to a new rock from exposure to heat and/or pressure. The high heat and pressure that forms these rocks can create interesting appearances and minerals within the rock. Examples include garnet schist, gneiss, and slate.