10 Cool Gifts for Earth Science Students

...and some books, of course.  Since I am teaching earth science this year, I thought I'd pull together a quick list of small gifts, bigger gifts, or stocking-stuffers for the enthusiastic rock lover.  Of course, nothing says Merry Geological Christmas like a lump of coal.  But here are a few other suggestions. Books for earth science are listed at the end.

Gallium

Small sample boxes

Rock hammer

Loupe set

Rock Tumbler

UV flashlight

Safety glasses

Geode

Prospecting pan

Stereo microscope for rock samples

• The Seashell on the Mountain is the story of Bl. Niels Steno. This is a secular account, but the story is good!
• The Practical Geologist is an excellent book for beginners, with all you need to know about rock formation and identification. Ideas, demonstrations, and more!
• The Control of Nature, and Basin and Range (also available via Audible and is perfect for long car rides)
  by John McPhee (McPhee is wonderful, expressing scientific thought in layman's terms)
•  Volcanoes in America's National Parks by Barbara and Robert Decker (travel and learn!)
• Earthshaking Science: What we know and What we don't Know about Earthquakes by Susan Hough
• Longitude : The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
• Exploring the Earth With John Wesley Powell by Michael Elsohn Ross (quick, good biography for young children)
• The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell
• Beneath Our Feet : The Rocks of Planet Earth by R. H. Vernon
• Melting the Earth : The History of Ideas on Volcanic Eruptions by Haraldur Sigurdsson
• After the Ice Age : The Return of Life to Glaciated North America by E. C. Pielou
• The Secret Life of Dust by Hannah Holmes (It's everywhere!)
• Volcano Cowboys by Dick Thompson (brave guys...)
• Earth in Turmoil : Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Their Impact on Humankind by Kerry Sieh