{"id":25871,"date":"2019-04-24T18:03:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T17:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/?p=25871"},"modified":"2019-04-25T09:00:54","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T08:00:54","slug":"national-geographic-geodes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/2019\/04\/24\/national-geographic-geodes\/","title":{"rendered":"National Geographic Geodes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As part of the boys\u2019 home education they learned about Geodes with the National Geographic STEM kids from Bandai. Hands-on learning is more effective than just being told things, or just reading, and that is why I was thrilled to be invited to be an ambassador: I previously wrote about their <a href=\"http:\/\/ https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/2019\/03\/01\/national-geographic-stem-dig-kits-review\/\ufeff\">Dig Kits.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?resize=800%2C548\" alt=\"National Geographic Geodes box and contents\" class=\"wp-image-25873\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Geodes are\nrounded hollow voids in rocks filled with crystals and other minerals which are\ntypically formed when the lava cools and air\nbubbles become trapped inside creating empty pockets. Over\nmillions of years mineral-rich water seeps into these pockets which hardened\ninto beautiful crystals. The largest crystals\ncan take&nbsp;a million years to\ngrow, and which minerals end up as crystals in a&nbsp;<strong>geode<\/strong>&nbsp;varies\nby location and conditions such as temperature, acidity, and the type of rock\nthe&nbsp;<strong>geode forms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">National\nGeographic Break Open 2 Geodes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To start\nwith the boys familiarised themselves with Geodes utilising the Geode Learning\nGuide booklet provided. It told them what Geodes are (including their\nproperties); how they are formed; the difference between Geodes and a Nodules;\nabout Concretions and Septarians; Geode Hotspots around the World; How to find\nGeodes; Types of Geodes &#8211; and all beautifully illustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Geode Instructions<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Geode\nInstruction booklet has a guide to open a geode and tips. There are several\noptions of how to open the Geode but stresses the importance of safety and\npatience. With each method the googles provided MUST be worn and that if you\nhit it hard then you will just end up with lots of little pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/hammer-and-chisel.jpg?resize=800%2C1067\" alt=\"Boy with long blonde hair wearing goggles opening a geode with a hammer and chisel\" class=\"wp-image-25875\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>National Geographic\nSTEM Contents<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>2\nPremium Quality Genuine Geodes<\/li><li>1\nPair of Safety Goggles<\/li><li>1\nLearning Guide and Translations Booklet<\/li><li>1\nGeode Instructions: Guides &amp; Tips Leaflet<\/li><li>1\nMagnifying Glass<\/li><li>1\nDisplay Stand<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Open Geodes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whichever\nmethod you use you are going to require a hammer which isn\u2019t provided. Ideally\nyou need a chisel to score the geode and make things more precise, but it isn\u2019t\nessential. To prevent pieces of rock flying everywhere (particularly for young\nchildren) you can place the geode in a sock first (preferably an old one as you\ndon\u2019t want to scratch your feet on pieces of rock afterwards!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/hammer-and-sock.jpg?resize=800%2C1067\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25874\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion\nof National Geographic Break Open 2 Geodes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The National\nGeographic Break Open 2 Geodes pack is a great stand-alone learning opportunity\nor great as part of learning about volcanoes or sedimentary rocks. I like how\nit comes complete with an illustrated guide so that the experience is\neducational and not just fun opening the Geodes. I do appreciate that providing\na hammer in the box isn\u2019t practical, and that there is a kit list on the\noutside clearly stating the contents, but it could be clearer that one is\nrequired. Saying that a rolling pin or something would make a good substitute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/examiining-crystal.jpg?resize=800%2C600\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25876\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We found that the first Geode was easy to open using the chisel and hammer method, and easily identified it as having quartz crystals. The second one looked like limestone and was much harder to break open &#8211; and it seemed to have clear calcite crystals inside and a dark layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Suitable for ages 8+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bandai.co.uk\/\">www.bandai.co.uk<\/a>&nbsp;for further information.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/bandai-stem-ambassador.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/bandai-stem-ambassador.jpg?resize=130%2C150\" alt=\"Bandai STEM Ambassador badge\" class=\"wp-image-25802\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>See The Brick Castle&#8217;s Review of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebrickcastle.com\/2019\/04\/national-geographic-break-open-geodes.html\">Geodes Kit<\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/the-gingerbread-house.co.uk\/2019\/04\/23\/learning-about-geodes-with-national-geographic\/\">The Gingerbread House<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>We received a free National\nGeographic STEM kids Geodes as part of our role as ambassadors. Words and\nopinions are honest and my own.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of the boys\u2019 home education they learned about Geodes with the National Geographic STEM kids from Bandai. Hands-on learning is more effective than just being told things, or just reading, and that is why I was thrilled to be invited to be an ambassador: I previously wrote about their Dig Kits. Geodes are &#8230; <a title=\"National Geographic Geodes\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/2019\/04\/24\/national-geographic-geodes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about National Geographic Geodes\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2017],"tags":[4471,3713],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=800%2C548","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=800%2C548",800,548,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?resize=150%2C150",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=300%2C206",300,206,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=768%2C526",768,526,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=800%2C548",800,548,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=800%2C548",800,548,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/54.155.211.39\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/geode-set.jpg?fit=800%2C548",800,548,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"pinkoddy","author_link":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/author\/pinkoddy\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"As part of the boys\u2019 home education they learned about Geodes with the National Geographic STEM kids from Bandai. Hands-on learning is more effective than just being told things, or just reading, and that is why I was thrilled to be invited to be an ambassador: I previously wrote about their Dig Kits. Geodes are&hellip;","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pepM9j-6Jh","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25871"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}