In this study, a convenient experimental method for determining specific heat, an important physical property of rocks and water, was developed and tested. The results revealed that students tend to overestimate the value of the specific heat for water compared to its theoretical value, but the estimations of the value for rock was almost reasonable. It is very important to understand that the specific heats of rock and water are very different in order to understand the causes of sea and land breezes and monsoon. Utilizing the method described in this paper, the specific heats of water and rock are obtained concretely. The results are sufficient to foster students’ correct understanding that the specific heat of water is about four times greater than that of rock.