11/17/13
Rocks Lesson
Materials:
-crack-open geodes
-small hammers
-clay (different colors)
-safety goggles
-plastic bags
Opening Discussion:
-what are rocks made out of?
-where do rock come from?
-what are the three main types of rocks?
-igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic
if you need some extra background on rock and the rock cycle here is a good link:
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/
Draw rock cycle diagram on board and explain
Types of Rocks demonstration
- distribute five small balls of clay to each student
- instruct them to stack them on top of each other
- once stacked, use the palm of your hand to push down to flatten all the balls
together
*this is an example of a sedimentary rock, made of distinct layers of components
that solidified into one
-cut each students clay piece in half to show the layers
-now tell them to use their hand to mix and mash the clay into one big ball
-cut the ball in half to show how the layers are all mixed
*this is a metamorphic rock because it was formed using heat and pressure and
the layers are no longer distinctly different
What is the third type of rock that we did not make with our clay?
Geodes
What is a geode? How is it formed?
In case you don’t know.. http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/geodes.html
-Two students at a time, each mentored by a volunteer, place geode in plastic
baggie and use hammer to gently crack it open
Make sure the students are wearing safety goggles!
While the geodes are being cracked, the rest of the students can complete the
attached rock cycle word puzzle
-students may keep their geodes at the end of the lesson