This week, using the links in the challenge, you’ll be introduced to feldspar. This isn’t a common nature study topic, but feldspar is a rather common rock-forming mineral that we can learn a little about using the Handbook of Nature Study.
You may decide this is a study that perhaps your older or more advanced students may wish to complete. If you have younger students or don’t have a specimen of feldspar to observe, see the alternate activity linked below for a more general rock nature study.
Here’s a quick overview of feldspar:
- Feldspar, which means field stone, names a group of minerals that are much alike.
- Feldspar is always a part of granite and other igneous rocks.
- The most common colors are white or gray, pale pink or pale yellow, but feldspar may also be olive green or brown.
- All feldspars are made of aluminum, silicon and oxygen.
View the original challenge here: Outdoor Hour Challenge – Feldspar Rock Study.
I would love for you to be encouraged in your rock study by this entry I wrote a few months ago: Teaching the “Hard” Nature Study Subjects – Rock Study. In my experience, I find this to be one of the more challenging nature subjects. But, the ability to take it slow and learn alongside your children can make this less intimidating.
If you have access to the Winter Nature Study Continues ebook, there is a notebook page for you to print and use for your nature journal.
Alternate Study: Here’s an alternate to the feldspar study linked in the Outdoor Hour Challenge this week. If you click over to the Rock Study Grid activity, you can print a notebook page activity to use with other rocks you may already have in your collection.
To purchase an Ultimate Naturalist Library membership, you can click on over to the Join Us page at any time.
You can use the discount code NATURE5 to receive $5 off your Ultimate Naturalist Library membership.
