An area that teachers often find difficult to make interesting is the earth science component of the science curriculum. This may be for a variety of reasons, such as lack of knowledge, lack of ideas or lack of resources. This article outlines ideas and activities that have been developed by the Earth Science Teachers' Association (ESTA) primary team to help primary teachers. Usually presented as training sessions at conferences, such as the ASE conference in January, new ideas are continually being added, with the help of participating teachers. Each workshop addresses basic content, whilst enabling participants to discuss and develop the ideas to suit their own individual background, situation and resources. The author presents some of the ways the rocks and soils are covered as part of the science curriculum. (Contains 2 figures.)