We attempted to make rock paints as a geology experiment for elementary and junior high school students.
This work provided an opportunity for children, who have few opportunities to experience nature, to think about and understand the background and characteristics of sediment and rocks, and how they change when crushed to the ultimate size. The joint project with the art course made it easy for the participants to engage in the experiments, and their reactions were very positive. It is also possible to make the project more localized by including samples specific to the region where the experiment is conducted or samples collected in the vicinity of the venue. However, if no preparation is made, such as temporary crushing of samples, the experiment can take up an entire day, so advance preparation and practice are important if it is to be included in a class or other setting.
