Exploring Earth’s Wonders Through Geology

This week at EverWild Forest School, our students dove deep into the fascinating world of geology! With the sun warming our days and spring unfolding all around us, it was the perfect time to explore the dynamic forces that shape our Earth. We focused on three big ideas—weathering, erosion, and deposition—and discovered just how powerful nature can be over time.

Our learners got hands-on with real rocks and gems, investigating how weathering breaks them down into smaller pieces through the force of wind, water, or even chemical reactions like acid rain. We even had the exciting opportunity to break open geodes and marvel at the sparkling crystals hidden inside—nature’s treasure chests! The students loved examining the different shapes, colors, and textures of rocks, noticing just how unique and beautiful each one is.

To understand erosion (the movement of sediment across the land through wind, water, or gravity) and deposition (when eroded sediments settle in a new place, forming visible layers over time) we created our own mini landscapes in jars by layering dirt, sand, small rocks, and water. After giving them a good shake, we observed how the materials settled into visible layers—showing how rivers and wind can move sediment and eventually create new landforms. The visual effect was mesmerizing and sparked some great conversations about how landscapes form and change over time.

One of the highlights of the week was using natural sediment mixed with water to create earth-pigment paintings. This creative activity helped us see how even the smallest particles can be transformed into something beautiful. Art and science came together in a muddy, magical way!

*Creating Erosion Art using sediment found around our outdoor classroom*

Our students made observations along the banks of the Boise River, noticing weathering, erosion, and deposition all around them. Our Forest Friday class took a field Trip to the Boise foothills, where they were able to see other examples of weathering, erosion, and deposition in the sandstone cliffs and along the trails. Seeing these processes in action helped our students connect Earth science concepts to the real world around them—right beneath their feet!

With sunny skies and warmer days, our learning felt especially joyful this week. There’s nothing quite like exploring geology outdoors, where we can touch the earth, feel the sun, and witness the slow magic of nature in action.

Of Rocks And Rivers

Rain, Rain…Don’t Go Away!