Katy Rock Shop – Earth Science Classes (Spring 2026)

Katy Rock Shop is offering Earth Science Classes through Spring 2026.
The February 2026 theme for homeschoolers, after schoolers and adults is:
“Lapidary Skills and Techniques” — one-time only!

February Classes

🌟 Young Explorers (Ages 6–8) – February 12

• Class 1: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Class 2: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• Class 3 4:30 pm – 5:30pm

Students will:

• Learn how to tumble rocks and connect this to erosion in rivers and oceans.
• Create labels and organize a small rock collection.
• Safely break open a geode using a rock hammer.

🔬 Junior Scientists (Ages 9–12) – February 19

• Same 3 class options will be available at 11:00am, 1:00pm, 4:30pm

Students will:

• Document their collection with labels and an index system.
• Tumble rocks by hardness to see erosion in “fast-forward.”
• Polish the face of a cut rock using a reciprocating flat lap.

🪨 Rockhounds & parent-teen night (Ages 13–Adult) – February 26

• 1 class time at 6:00pm with very limited seats. To Register → (Click Here).

Registration

• Please pay for your group before the event.
• Include your children’s names, ages, class date, and preferred time in the payment notes.
• Seats are limited — book early!
• Advanced students may progress through multiple sessions during the month.

Discounts for Groups

Share with your COOP, friends, or Facebook groups to receive discounts:

• 1 kid = $25
• 2–5 kids = $23 each
• 6–10 kids = $22 each
• 11–15 kids = $21 each
• 16–25 kids = $20 each

Private homeschool classes are available with 15+ participants. These can be scheduled on any weekday or time.

COOP & Field Trip Options 🌍

We currently offer three Earth Science classes for COOPs and private group field trips:

1. The Rock Cycle (1st Thursday)

Students will:

• Use magnifying glasses to observe rock grains and textures.
• Relate observations to the three major rock groups.
• Practice critical skills: gravity, buoyancy, observation, deductive reasoning, and identification of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

2. Hardness Testing with Moh’s Scale (2nd Thursday)

Students will:

• Learn Moh’s Hardness and Streak testing.
• Safely test rocks at home or in the field.
• Practice skills: rock vs. mineral, atoms, bonds, density, hardness, streak, observation, and deductive reasoning.
• Review the rock cycle, gravity, buoyancy, atoms, bonds, and density to understand hardness.

3. Fossils & Lithification (3rd Thursday)

Students will:

• Explore fossil types (molds, casts).
• Learn how layers deposit in rivers/oceans and how fossils are preserved through lithification and cementation.
• Run three experiments:
  1. Create fossil molds.
  2. Observe sedimentary layer stratification through particle settling velocity.
  3. Watch mineral crystallization sped up for easy observation.
• Mine for fossils using the sluice!

👉 We recommend starting with The Rock Cycle, since those skills are used in later classes.