• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Camping, Rocks, and Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty Planet Earth

ByPam

Let’s talk about dirt and rocks!

How fun is it to dig around in the dirt searching for buried treasure or feeling the coolness of the deeper layers of soil underneath the top soil?

While I personally don’t like dirt under my fingernails, I am 100% convinced that kids need to play outside and dig in the soil, explore and generally engage their inner mini scientists.  Their imaginations are set free by discovering the textures, smells, and tastes (gross, I know) of playing outside.

I know many of you are winding down your summer so why not plan a camp out to celebrate the earth? I have the perfect book to center your camp out party around:

Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty Planet Earth

Dirtmeister's Nitty Gritty Planet Earth by  Steve Toemcek

The Dirtmeister aka Steve Tomecek is a geologist.  A geologist is someone who studies rocks. I’m thinking at this campout party you don’t want to dig up your yard but maybe you could find a way around that.

As a matter of fact, I think you can! Why not set up some sensory bins, fill them with rocks or beans and hide shiny pretty marbles or pennies or plastic toys in them? Grab some spoons or shovels or cups and start digging!

Then on a much needed water break, wash hands (always wash hands before touching a book please) and then dig in to Dirtmeister’s book! You’ll learn all about volcanoes (let’s make one!), different kinds of rocks (who knew?), and earthquakes.  Try some of the super experiments from the book!

Let’s get digging, you never know what you might uncover, maybe a rare diamond? Maybe a future geologist in the making? How hot is a volcano? Why are there earthquakes? What does a moon rock taste like? Who knows!

Dirtmeister knows.

And now so will you.

Get digging!