Egg Carton Rock Collection Activity

Be a geologist for a day, get outdoors, and explore! Use your supreme observation skills to learn about the geology around you.

*Science skills: Observation, Data collection and Classification

 

Materials for Egg Carton Rock Collection Activity.

NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah

Materials:

• Egg Carton (Clear/plastic, Styrofoam, or Paper)

• Pencil or pen

Optional Items:

• Glue

• Scissors

• Scrapbook paper from local art store, colored construction paper or scrap paper.

• Paint

• Stickers

• Magnifying glass

• Notepad for classifying

 

Step 1: Decorate your egg carton

Once, you have collected all your art supplies, have fun decorating your egg carton. Maybe use the stickers to spell out your name on the top of the egg carton. See example below:

 

Example of a decorated egg carton for collecting rocks.

NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah

 

A green recycling triangle arrow with a leaf and the words "Recycling is Fun!"

NPS Image / Kelly Savannah

Upcycle challenge: A fun way to reuse materials!

1. Find old newspapers, magazines, or completed coloring book pages.
2. With the help of an adult, cut out various images, letters, colors, patterns that you like or represent you.
3. Using glue, paste your new "upcycled stickers" onto your egg carton.
4. Let dry for 1-2 hours before using. Have fun!

 

Step 2: Time to Rock!

After, you finish decorating your egg carton, take a walk with your family or friends, and collect some rocks that will fit inside of your egg carton (See example below). Please remember when visiting national parks like the C&O Canal to “Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints!” Learn more about Leave No Trace Principle.

 

A collection of rocks set inside an egg carton with a magnifying glass next to the egg carton.

NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah, Rock ID Chart inside image was created by Raisa Barrera.

 

Step 3: Sort and Classify

Once, you have gathered a few rocks, see if you can sort and classify the rocks. Make observations by using your senses. Feel the texture of each rock. Is it smooth or rough? Is it hard or brittle? What color is the rock? Is it one solid color or many colors? Can you see layers or small pebbles in the rock? A magnifying glass will help examine rocks closely.

How to sort & classify your rocks:

• Type: Is the rock Igenous, Metamorphic or Sedimentary? To learn more, visit, Types of Rocks.

• Size: You could use a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter to compare the size the rock to the coins.

• Texture: Feel how smooth or bumpy or rough the rock feels.

• Appearance: Is the rock shiny or dull?

• Color: Is the rock, black, green, pink, white, sandy/ brown color?

• Shape: Is the rock square, triangular or round (circle)?

• Hardness: To determine the hardness of a rock, scratch one rock against each other. The one that gets scratched (or leaves a streak) is the softer rock.

See examples of sorting rocks below:

 

Sorting Rocks by Type:

 

Examining the rocks by looking through a magnifying glass and sorting the rocks by type with Type of Rocks ID Chart on the inside of the egg carton.

NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah, Rock ID Chart inside image was created by Raisa Barrera.

 

Sorting Rocks by Color:

 

Sorting Rocks by Color with magnifying glass nearby.

NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah

 

Extension Activities:

Add a math component!

Count the number of rocks that fall under the different sorting categories. For example, if you choose to sort your rocks by color, count the number of white rocks, green rocks, pinkish red rocks, etc. or if you choose to sort your rocks by type, count the number of rocks that are igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. Classify and Record your answers on a notepad to graph the results later.

Older Ages:

Using the Printable Rock ID Chart, identify the rocks you collected and write the results in a notepad. Then count the number of rocks that fall under each type of rock category to graph later.