Rock Tumbling is a fantastic method of teaching the physical sciences to high school students. It helps them to understand the formation of rocks, geology, and the process of erosion. They`ll also begin to show an fascination for the earth and science all over the world. Tumbling is also a way to help children recognize visual features such as shape, color texture, and differentiating marks. How the Most Progessive Schools Are Using Rock Tumbling to Illustrate An excellent way for students in high school discover the physical sciences is through experiments that require students to manipulate objects. Tumbling rocks is an excellent activity that lets them get outside and play with basic devices and objects. The majority of rock tumbling machines comprise of two main parts: the motor as well as the barrel. Both of them work to crush stones and smooth them. Tumbling rocks using abrasive stones is a favorite among craft, jewelry and lapidary hobbyists. It is a great way to bring out the shine and color of a raw rock or mineral. It`s also a favorite pastime for people who enjoy hunting for natural rock specimens in the wild. Tumbling stones from the ground is a wonderful way to be in touch with nature and appreciate the beauty that is hidden within every stone. What Rocks to Tumble? If you`re going to teach the art of tumbling rocks as part of the science curriculum for high school You should provide only rocks that are suitable for tumbling. This will ensure the best results, and also ensure that your students will have a excellent experience learning about minerals and how they work together to produce the rocks that they tumble. An excellent place to start is to test the strength of a rock. The ideal situation is that all of the stones in your tumbler should be approximately the same in hardness, ranging between 6 and 8 On the Mohs Harness scale (see below). Another important test to run is to feel for the texture in the surface of the rock. You should generally look for rocks with an even surface with no grain. It`s pretty simple to verify – just rub a few rocks together and look for any small particles of dirt or gravel falling off the surface. This is a great way to tell if the rock has a smooth texture and is suitable to tumble. How to Tumble Rocks Using rock tumbling as an activity in a high school science class is an excellent method to get students involved. But before you get started, be sure to understand how to properly tumble rocks. First, decide what type of stone you`ll use for tumbling. This will determine the type of is the best grit for you and the dimensions of your tumbler and how long each step of it will require. Following that, you need to polish the rough rocks into smooth, rounded gems. This is done with abrasive grit, which is made out of either carbide or silicon. Once you have the correct grit, run your rock tumbler at least for one week. It`s best to inspect the barrel every seven days to check whether the rocks are progressing through the tumbling and polishing process. Tumbling Activities Rock tumbling is an excellent way to introduce kids into the world of physical science. It is also a great game for all the family. Most important is to be sure that the tumbler is operated carefully. It is powered by electricity, has moving parts and requires the supervision of a responsible adult. top rock tumbler To achieve the success of this project the students should be able to comprehend erosion and weathering in the natural world. This can be achieved through a simulation that allows them to be a part of this process. They will need to measure the visual aspects like shape, texture, color and distinct marks, length and mass. They might need calipers for this purpose. These rocks are more difficult to tumble than soft ones Be sure to offer them with the same in terms of relative toughness, on the Mohs scale. Limestone, shale, and marble are excellent choices. They are well cemented but soft enough to allow for the effects of weathering over a few days of tumble.