CURRICULUM TOOL: ROCKS AND MINERALS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
NYS Earth Science Core Curriculum
Curriculum-Based Questions
Performance Indicator 3.1 Explain the properties of materials
in terms of the arrangement and properties of the atoms that compose them.

Major Understandings:
3.1c Rocks are usually composed of one or more minerals.
 Rocks are classified by their origin, mineral content, and texture.
 Conditions that existed when a rock formed can be inferred from
the rock’s mineral content and texture.
 The properties of rocks determine how they are used and also
influence land usage by humans.

Some Past Part A Questions
1. Which texture best describes an igneous rock that formed deep
underground?
(1) glassy
(2) vesicular
(3) fine grained
(4) course grained
2. Which igneous rock is dark colored, cooled rapidly on Earth’s
surface, and is composed mainly of plagioclase feldspar,
olivine, and pyroxene?
(1) obsidian
(2) rhyolite
(3) gabbro
(4) scoria



How are igneous rocks formed and what terms
do scientists use to describe the two
environments where they form?
What textures are possible in igneous rocks and
how were they created?
What are the differences between mafic and
felsic igneous rocks?
What minerals are found in mafic, intermediate,
and felsic igneous rocks?
How are igneous rocks represented in the Earth
Science Reference Table? Complete one
Igneous Activity (A, B, or C).
Earth Science Reference Table pg. 6
(related pages: 3, 10, 16)
Some Past Part B-1, B-2, C Questions
August 2012 Question 70
January 2012 Questions 51-52
June 2011 Question 77
*Released Regents Tests:
http://www.nysedregents.org/earthscience/
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
CURRICULUM TOOL: ROCKS AND MINERALS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
3. Which igneous rock has a vesicular texture and contains the
minerals potassium feldspar and quartz?
(5) andesite
(6) pegmatite
(7) pumice
(8) scoria
Resources for Learning
Readings
Holt (yellow book) pg.
129-134
Glencoe (big blue book)
pg. 98-112, 117
McGuire (little blue book)
pg.120-125
Unison Reading Binder:
Rocks and Minerals
Websites
Videos
Regents Exam Prep Center: Earth Science
http://regentsprep.org/Regents/earthsci/eart
hsci.cfm
What are igneous rocks?
http://video.about.com/geology/WhatAre-Igneous-Rocks-.htm
Geology: Rocks and Minerals
http://hmxearthscience.com/rocks_and_min
erals.html
Types of igneous rocks
http://video.about.com/geology/Typesof-Igneous-Rocks.htm
Igneous Rocks
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/ge
ology/ig_intro.html&edu=high
Igneous Rocks
http://www.schooltube.com/video/6b86
0d6f1d8b47d2b886/
Regents Review Materials
http://reviewearthscience.com/
http://regentsearth.com/
At Home:
Igneous Rocks
www.youtube.com/watch?v=deC5af9AW
6w
Foreign Language:
Rocas Igneas
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/ge
ology/ig_intro.html&edu=high&lang=sp
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
Igneous Rock Chart
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL37057
D7BFD1608CB
In-Class Activities
Rocks and Minerals
Binder
Igneous Rock
Comparisons
Igneous Rock Memory
Game