Chapter Introduction: the ROCK CYCLE
Rock Cycle Chapter Introduction
There’s a lot you can learn from a rock today. Just pick up a rock and say “hey”. Where do you come from? How do you do? I’m a human being and I’m a lot like you.
Pick up a rock. What can it teach you? What can you learn about the rock and the earth? How can you get to know the rock?
Rocks are cool! The atoms, molecules and minerals in rocks are the same as in your body. Rocks make up the earth like cells make up the body.
By observing a rock you can know where and how it was made. You can also get a better understanding and appreciation of our home the earth.
Topic:
The surface of the Earth is covered in a thin layer of rock called the crust. The crust rises up with hot magma and erupting volcanoes. The crust falls down with erosion - changing temperatures, winds and rains.
Different types of rocks are made as the crust rises and falls. Rocks move and changed through the crust in the rock cycle.
Basic questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the four types of rocks?
2. Where are each of the rock types made?
3. Describe and explain how each rock type is made.
MODEL STEPS:
1. Melted rock rises in the magma chamber under the volcano.
2. The volcano erupts. The lava quickly cools into extrusive igneous rock.
3. Winds, rains and temperatures break the rock into sand. The sand washes to the ocean floor and cements together into sedimentary rock.
4. The sedimentary rock sinks deeper. Heat and pressure changes (partially melts and bends) the rock into metamorphic rock.
5. Deeper down the rock fully melts and slowly cools. These intrusive igneous rocks have hard interlocking crystals.
Suggested Flow:
1. Draw the rock cycle.
2. Sing along with rock cycle music videos.
3. Read and write a story of a rock moving through the crust.
4. Read and write rock poetry.
5. Get some rocks and learn where and how they were made by observing them.