River Rock Mystery

The river rock mystery shows young archaeologists how the smooth, well-rounded stones in riverbeds ended up where they are. Kids only need to find a few specimens and turn on their imaginations to reveal the story.

What You'll Need:

• Bucket
• Stream or riverbed

Encourage your child to examine a few of the stones they pick up in a bucket near the river. Then encourage them to imagine the journeys these stones have made downstream, and figure out why they're more rounded than their mountainside friends.

Once they've found some smooth rocks, help your child follow their trail to find out how the stones got to the river and where they came from. Go with them up the gravel paths, to the high ridges and mountain sides. It's always interesting to imagine how a stone got where it is and how it came to look the way it does.

On the next page, discover how kids can use a net to learn more about the contents of a river or lake.

For more outdoor activities for kids:

• Beach Activities
• Beach Games for Kids
• Summer Crafts
• Kids' Crafts
• Kids' Activities