Build an amazing rocks and fossils collection

There is nothing quite like the awe and wonder of holding a 300-million-year-old fossil in your hand. Or examining the crystals in a piece of granite under a microscope.

In the age of digital information, allowing students to touch, examine, and explore real objects like rocks, fossils, and minerals facilitates a depth of understanding. It’s the tangible connection that bridges the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world application.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to build an amazing rocks and fossils collection for your classroom. Because when students have access to authentic specimens, they’re not just learning about the history of our incredible planet—they’re holding it in their hands!

Museum gift shops

Check out your local museum gift shop for bargain fossils and crystals. Gift shops are great as you may be able to choose the best-looking specimens from their stock, as well as ask staff questions about them. I used to work in a small local authority museum that sold great-value fossils that were ideal for educational use.

Garden centres

For bags of slate or pieces of sandstone, local garden suppliers are a good resource for building a collection of rocks that children can use to test their properties.

Kitchen suppliers might also have samples of polished granite or marble.

eBay

eBay is full of hidden gems (pun intended). Search for good-sized collections by private sellers, or good value, professionally prepared specimens from business sellers.

Don’t forget eBay also allows you to make offers on some listings which could give sellers a quick sale.

My advice when looking online is to check the fossil size in the description. Sometimes what looks great on-screen turns out to be tiny when it arrives!

Amazon

Sometimes it really does feel like you can buy anything on Amazon 😂 

National Geographic on Amazon* has a range of rocks, fossil, and gem kits to choose from, and the option for kids to excavate their own fossils!

*As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ask Around

Sometimes people have old collections hidden away from their childhood that they’d love to re-home! Ask parents or try local Facebook groups to see if anyone would like to donate any geological finds to your school.

In the summer break, you could ask children to bring a small rock back from places they visit. For example, in the UK, you can find slate in Cornwall, limestone in the Lake District, granite in parts of Scotland, and flint on a beach visit.

But what if you still can’t get enough for your own collection?

Use high-quality images  

I mentioned in a previous post that I love the Smithsonian Open Access site for images, especially as they show the scale of each fossil. The site also tells you where the fossil was collected, when, and what it is. Images can be downloaded in high resolution, and most are free of copyright restrictions!

Museum loans boxes

Many museums run loans box services for schools. Try your local museum and see if they offer objects or resource kits for use in the classroom. The benefit is borrowing rarther than buying is the lower cost in the short term, and the specimens often come with lessons plans or resources to use alongside them.

Class visit to a museum

Museums are a treasure trove! Plus, the opportunity to speak to knowledgeable staff and for children to ask those tricky questions is invaluable. If you don’t have a natural history or earth science museum near you, try some further afield to see if they offer any services virtually.

Caring for your collection

A great rocks and fossils resource can be used by children for decades with the right storage and care. For tips on how to look after your geology collection, check out this ‘caring for your classroom rocks and fossils collection’ blog post.

Sign up for a freebie

Join the Wonder at the World mailing list and receive a free ‘how a fossil is formed’ foldable activity PDF. Sign up here!