Anthony Spagnoli's Lessons for Monday, May 16, 2022
HMS - Rock Cycle - Sedimentary Rock Exploration
8th Grade Science
Essential
Question
What is the process by which sedimentary rocks are formed?
Objectives
Students will understand the process of formation of the three types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous
and metamorphic.
Standards
MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that
drives this process.
1. Energy flow
Supporting
Concepts
2. Matter cycling
3. Pressurization
4. Weathering
Materials
Needed
COMPONENT
Paper; pencil; crayon shavings; wax paper; wood planks
TIME
PLAN/ MATERIALS
I.
- Warmup
1. Check-in - how do you feel today?
II. Bell ringer WARMUP
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1. Show picture of rock stratification
1. What do you notice about these rocks? Write down one observation?
2. With a partner, discuss why the rocks in this picture are at an angle.
1. Ask one or two students to share an observation.
I. What is a sedimentary rock?
GUIDED
INSTRUCTION
Anthony Spagnoli
1. ASK: what would happen if you had a pile of sand in a large basin and you
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poured water over it?
1. Explain that the grains of sand would flow in the direction of the water,
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eventually spreading out and settling down flat into the bottom of the
basin.
2. EXPLAIN: The same thing happens to rocks over time. Water and wind
slowly erodes igneous rocks into tiny pieces which flow through water and
eventually settle on top of one another
3. ➡️ ASK: With your partner, discuss where you think these little pieces of rock
would finally end up if they were being transported by water?
1. Explain that water transports sediments down stream to lakes and
oceans. These layers of sediment eventually become sedimentary rocks.
2. DEFINE - Sedimentary Rock - rocks that are formed from pre-existing
rock deposits that accumulate on the Earth's surface.
II. Making a sedimentary "rock"
1. Define Lithification - the process in which sediments compact under
pressure and gradually become solid rock.
2. Pass out materials to model the process of lithification: wax paper, wax
shavings, wood planks (if using)
3. Lithification has three parts. Will will go though these parts by using crayon
wax as a substitute for sediment.
1. Deposition- the sediment is deposited in a body of water
1. DO: Have students take three colors of wax and layer them on top of
each other on the wax paper.
2. ASK: If we did nothing else to this "sediment" would it still become a
rock over time?
2. Compaction - As more layers are formed the weight from the layers
above them put pressure on the lower layers and compress the
sediments into rock over a very long period of time.
1. DO: Have the students fold the wax paper on top of the wax shavings
and then place it between the wood planks. They can step on it or
push hard with their hands to apply pressure.
2. ASK: before you look at your wax, predict what you think will happen
with your partner.
3. Cementation: The heat from the pressure dissolves the minerals around
the sediment to create a cement that bonds the sediment together.
1. Now look at your wax "rock" and discuss what you see with your
partner.
2. Share your observations with the class.
Anthony Spagnoli
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I. Discuss the following questions
1. What is one thing that sedimentary rocks need to form? (pressure)
2. What are the three main steps that create a sedimentary rock? (deposition;
compaction; cementation)
3. Are the layers at the bottom of the formation generally older or younger than
ASSESSMENT
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the layers at the top? (older)
II. Clean up
1. Students may take home the wax rocks. Make sure all trash is appropriately
disposed of and desks are cleaned.
Anthony Spagnoli
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