Chapter 8 Lesson 1, "Rocks and Rock Types"

Materials:

• Scratch paper and writing utensil
• Worksheet, "Rocks and Rock Types"

Objective:

• Students will explain what rocks are.
• Students will explain why scientists study rocks.
• Students will name three types of rocks.

Anticipatory Set:* The students will view the three objectives of the lesson and rewrite each as a question. as the lesson progresses students will have time to answer each of the questions they wrote. Show the students a collections of rocks. Invite the students to bring in their own rock collection on Monday. Show the students a sample of trail mix. If the teachers at sites have one the students will enjoy working with it. Think of the trail mix as different minerals. Rocks then are a collection or mixture of different types of minerals. Remind the students that even though the minerals in a rock may be physically combined each retains its own characteristics. Here are some examples of how some rocks are formed.

Limestone is a rare case in that it is made up of only one mineral: calcite

Granite always contains quartz and feldspar but may have some other accessory minerals. Sometimes Mica and hornblende may appear in granite.

A very common mineral in rocks is Feldspar. In fact more than half of the rocks on earth contain feldspar.

Here are some others: sandstones are primarily quartz, Marble is mostly calcite, but remind the students that rocks and minerals are not the same. Define mineral again for the students: Mineral- Element or compound found in the earth that is solid, formed naturally in the earth, has the same chemical make-up throughout, are not alive or made of once living things, and have definite atomic patterns. Go through these slides to remind the students what a mineral is: What is a mineral? Definition, Definition with quantifiers.

Teacher Input:* Show the students the Rock Classification There are 3000 different kinds of minerals on earth be glad you do not have to memorize them all. Only about 20 minerals make up 95% of the rocks on earth. Again, most are mixed together in rocks. So, What is a rock? Give time for students to explain and answer the first objective question. Now for the second. Does anyone know why we study rocks? Find oil, Find Gold, find other rare resources. There are three main groups of rocks scientists study:

Sedimentary rock -define it with students and then show them a picture:Rock formed from pieces of other rock and organic matter that have been pressed and cemented together.

Metamorphic rocks - define it with students and then show them a picture.; rock that has been changed by intense heat, pressure, and chemical reactions

Igneous rock - define it with students: rock formed from melted minerals that have cooled and hardened.

Give the students a chance to answer the last question written from the objectives.

Show a picture of the rock cycle and explain how rocks can change from one to the other.

Guided Practice:* Read the questions on page 180 and have the students help answer them. Students can go to the site: http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=437&

and try to classify the different rock types: they may need this info. Username: jmarley, Password: moose

Independent Practice:* Students will complete the worksheet, "Rocks and Rock Types"

Check for Understanding:* Students will complete the quiz for Chapter 8 Lesson 1, Rocks and Rock Types.

Duration:

30 minutes + 10-15 for Independent Practice (Could be longer if taken for homework).

Alaska Content Standards Addressed in this lesson:

• SCI A-2 Students will understand the physical, chemical, and nuclear changes and interactions that result in observable changes in the properties of matter (Changes and Interactions of Matter);
• SCI A-3 Students will understand models describing the composition, age, and size of our universe, galaxy, and solar system and understand that the universe is constantly moving and changing (Universe);
• SCI A-4 Students will understand observable natural events such as tides, weather, seasons, and moon phases in terms of the structure and motion of the earth (Earth);

• SCI A-15 Students will use science to understand and describe the local environment (Local Knowledge); and: