Geology

Suggested Time: 60 minutes
Overview
Students will learn about various types of rocks and how they are formed through geologic processes. Further exploring geology, students will collect their own rocks, conduct a range of experiments, graph relationships, and learn more about the interesting field of geology.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Geology Basics (15 mins)
1. Read Looking at Rocks (My First Field Guides) and look through the National Geographic pictures with the class.
Part 2: Native Rock Study! (30 mins)
  1. Take the students outside to collect rocks. Each student should bring a container with them.
  2. Once they return, the students will put all of the rocks they gathered into one pile.
  3. Students should then sort the rocks, attempting to separate them by type. They should use the books provided as guiding material.
  4. Once students have separated the rocks by type, have them begin their “field notes”, using Looking at Rocks (My First Field Guides) as a guide.
  5. They should start by writing down the various types and the number of each type found.
   6. Have the students inspect rocks within each type and write down properties observed. They should include features that they can see and              feel by touching the rocks.
   7. Have them perform experiments to discover additional properties. They should use the scale to weigh the rocks. Which rock is the heaviest?          Which is the lightest?
   8. Have them put some rocks of different types in water. Which one sinks the quickest?
   9. Guide the students through a simple graphing exercise, where they graph the relationship between the weight of each rock type and how                quickly it sinks. What other graphs can they think of making?
Part 3: What’s So Important About Rocks? (15 mins)
  1. Relate the rock activity to the larger study of geology. Discuss important discoveries made in the field, as well as its applications to disaster response.
  2. Read How Mountains Are Made with the students.