Rocks and Minerals
Section two is all about rocks and minerals. From defining the difference between the two terms, to identifying minerals and how they are composed to form rocks, section two is ideal for hands on work and demonstrations.
Rocks
The photo to the right is of a student creating the three different classes of rocks from chocolate. Students were given chocolate shavings and asked to create sedimentary rocks (pressure), metamorphic rocks (heat and pressure) and igneous rocks (heat). I found this hands on activity worked extremely well with all levels of students and brought a huge level of enthusiasm into a topic that many students originally thought of as boring.
Links for the two documents used to create this activity are attached below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5hlf1ebslgvzt5/3%20types%20of%20rocks%20activity%20sheet.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yts4kceq8gt5lt8/making_chocolate_rocks.doc?dl=0
I've linked the smartboard presentation and the worksheet below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mbvtqgvx484uz45/Three%20Classes%20of%20Rocks%20-%20worksheet.docx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wq6ot71bsltnufi/%238%20-%203%20Types%20of%20Rock.notebook?dl=0
The rock cycle can also be taught well with hand on aids and demonstrations. The link below is for a booklet designed to teach the rock cycle.
http://cmse.olemiss.edu/files/2011/11/rock_cycle.pdf
The photo to the right is of a student creating the three different classes of rocks from chocolate. Students were given chocolate shavings and asked to create sedimentary rocks (pressure), metamorphic rocks (heat and pressure) and igneous rocks (heat). I found this hands on activity worked extremely well with all levels of students and brought a huge level of enthusiasm into a topic that many students originally thought of as boring.
Links for the two documents used to create this activity are attached below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5hlf1ebslgvzt5/3%20types%20of%20rocks%20activity%20sheet.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yts4kceq8gt5lt8/making_chocolate_rocks.doc?dl=0
I've linked the smartboard presentation and the worksheet below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mbvtqgvx484uz45/Three%20Classes%20of%20Rocks%20-%20worksheet.docx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wq6ot71bsltnufi/%238%20-%203%20Types%20of%20Rock.notebook?dl=0
The rock cycle can also be taught well with hand on aids and demonstrations. The link below is for a booklet designed to teach the rock cycle.
http://cmse.olemiss.edu/files/2011/11/rock_cycle.pdf
Minerals
To teach students about minerals, we discussed some definitions by using a smartboard presentation and then moved onto a hands on activity where students had to identify the specific mineral.
I've attached links to the smartboard presentation and the minerals activity sheet.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mtsrv7rnl6ju46r/Rocks%20and%20Minerals.notebook?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4mbn9rhos6tty9/Prospecting%20for%20Minerals.docx?dl=0
To teach students about minerals, we discussed some definitions by using a smartboard presentation and then moved onto a hands on activity where students had to identify the specific mineral.
I've attached links to the smartboard presentation and the minerals activity sheet.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mtsrv7rnl6ju46r/Rocks%20and%20Minerals.notebook?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4mbn9rhos6tty9/Prospecting%20for%20Minerals.docx?dl=0