Small, thin-walled geodes are often sold in kits by department, education, science, tourist and novelty stores. The vendor product descriptions encourage teachers, parents and students to purchase the kits and break the geodes open with a hammer. These geode kits are extremely popular. If you do a Google search for “geode kit” you will find them offered online by dozens of different vendors.

If you are tempted to purchase one of these kits, be sure to read the reviews because quality varies greatly. It is also essential to plan for proper safety equipment, because striking a geode with a hammer can produce flying rock fragments that can cause serious injury. You will also need a good place to do this activity. Following some of the vendor suggestions of breaking them on a table, or classroom floor, can cause property damage that is costly to repair.

An alternative to purchasing a “break-open-a-geode kit” every year is to purchase a few specimens of opened geodes and sliced geodes. This can be supplemented with looking at geodes on websites using computer projection and videos of professionals opening geodes on YouTube. These avoid the safety, property damage, and clean-up concerns of “breaking geodes.” The cost of this approach might save money over time that can be used on other engaging science activities.