BACKGROUND:
Rocks are made of minerals. When the minerals are visible, they can be
used to identify the rocks. However, many times you cannot distinguish
minerals easily. There are other clues that you can use to help identify
them.
For instance, obsidian or volcanic glass, is one of the few rocks that
looks like glass. Obsidian is usually, but not always, a deep black.
Sedimentary rocks sometimes are "gritty" or feel like sand. So
students should being to feel rocks to get a sense of their texture.
Metamorphic rocks tend to be "shiny" like a rock that has many
rhinestones.
PROCEDURE:
- Review the vocabulary words and other words that might be helpful to
distinguish the rocks and minerals in your collection.
- For each student (or group of students) print two copies of the chart
on the following page.
- Instruct each student to write the following terms in each of the
blank spaces. Define each of the words and emphasize the meaning of definitions with respect to rocks.
|
black, glassy |
red with holes |
large with minerals |
|
white, flat, light |
pebbles, glued together |
sand, glued together |
|
flat, layers |
shiny |
gray and white, fizzes |
On the other sheet have them write the following:
|
granite |
scoria |
obsidian |
|
sandstone |
conglomerate |
shale |
|
marble |
schist |
gneiss |
- Have students paste the two sides together and they will have the
descriptive terms on one side and the rock type of the other. If
students glue them together "granite" should match "with
large minerals," "marble" should match "with gray
and white, fizzes," etc. They will use these in lab.
- During lab, the children will need to use the sheets that they will be
making. You can actually have the students divide the paper into the 9
squares by slowly going through drawing the lines. If students have not
learned how to use a ruler this is a great time to teach them.
Otherwise, give them 2 sheets with boxes already drawn.
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