Today we are making DIY rocks! You heard me! We are making rocks today with this fun science activity. Kids of all ages will have fun turning simple aluminum foil into shiny rocks. It’s fun, it’s easy, it’s educational and can help kids dip their toes into the world of geology. You can do this fun DIY rock science experiment at home or in the classroom.

Rock Science Experiment- hand holding aluminum foil rocks and text- kids activities blog — Let’s make rocks!

DIY Rocks Science Experiment

Kids will be able to explore geology and understand how rocks are made with this science activity. Plus, they can work on fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination as well.

A rock is a solid. And there are different types of rocks, and each one is made differently. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have undergone changes. These rocks are generally subjected to very high heat and lots of pressure underneath the Earth’s surface. Which is what we will be doing today, making metamorphic rocks… but without the heat!

Fun fact: Marble, slate, gneiss, and schist are all metamorphic rocks!

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Related: Let’s make some moon rocks!

Supplies Needed For This DIY Rocks Science Experiment

Aluminum Foil (We uses pieces that were 12×12)
Safety Goggles
Gloves
1 Hammer
Paper
Pencil
Magnifying Glass

How To Set Up Your DIY Rocks Science Activity

Step 1

Wad up one piece of your aluminum foil into a ball. It can be a loose ball. Label this aluminum ball “Rock A”.

Step 2

Now, was up the second piece of aluminum foil, like the first one, and put it on the floor or a hard work surface. Using your hands, push down on it and squish it as hard as you can! After, label it “Rock B”.

Step 3

Take your third piece of aluminum foil and roll it into a ball. Then squish it with your hand as hard as you can. Now, put on your safety glasses and take your hammer and hammer the aluminum foil until it’s half as thick as it was. Then label it “Rock C”.

Step 4

Take your last piece of aluminum foil and roll it into a ball. Then squash it with your hands. Now, take your hammer and whack it! Keep doing it until you smash it completely flat. Label this one “Rock D”.

Craft Notes

If some pieces come off, that is okay. It happens when real rocks are forming too.

Looking At Your DIY Rocks

Look at your rocks. Look at them with just your eyes and then use the magnifying glass. What do you notice about these DIY rocks? How do they compare to real rocks?

You can probably see a different between your faux rocks. Though, they may have similarities to some real rocks.

Rock Science Experiment- Step 4- Hands holding lots of aluminum foil rocks- Kids Activities Blog — Examine your rocks.

Your DIY Rocks Explained

Rock A

You may notice that the aluminum foil has a lot of flat surfaces, but they face different directions. This is very similar to mudstone and clay. Their particles face different directions just like your aluminum foil rock.

Rock B

Take the magnifying glass and look at this DIY rock. The little flat surfaces are still facing different ways, but do you notice that some are starting to face the same way? Rock B is very similar to slate. Slate is clay that’s been under pressure and has become a rock and the particles within it are lined up along the same plane.

Rock C

This rock is most like phyllite. That means the surface of your crushed foil is pretty aligned with one another instead of jutting in many different directions like rock a and b.

Rock D

Did any pieces come off your rock? If so, then your rock was being sheared. If you look at this DIY rock under the magnifying glass then you’ll see that the surface should be mostly facing the same direction, unlike rocks a, b, and c. This DIY rock most resembles a rock that is called schist.