Katy Rock Shop – Earth Science Classes (Spring 2026)

This is the class “Lapidary Skills and Techniques”!

If you would like to book your own private corporate event, birthday, class, or homeschool group, then this class is for you.

Class Times

• Totally up to you!

🪨 Rockhounds (Ages 13–Adult): Bring your own rocks to cut and polish or chose one of ours!

• Tumble rocks by hardness to see erosion in “fast-forward.”
• Polish the face of a cut rock using a reciprocating flat lap.
• How to cut rocks with a slab and trim saw.

🔬 Junior Scientists (Ages 9–12)

• 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.

🪨 For Young Explorers (Age 5-8):

• 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.

Registration

• Please pay for your group before the event to secure your spot.
• Include your names, ages, date and time for the event.
• Seats are limited — book early!
• Discounts for Groups apply at checkout.

This event requires a minimum of 5 people:

• 1st 5 people = $40
• 6–10 people = $38
• 11–15 people = $36

This particular class is ideal when there are less than 15 people. It can be scheduled on any day or time.

Other Field Trip Classes 🌍

We currently offer Earth Science classes for kids, teenagers and adults.

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.