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Observing Rocks
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students use their senses to make observations of rocks. They sort rocks based on observable features and then explore the question if all rocks are the same.
Suggested Grade Levels: K-
Standards for Lesson
Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry K-4: Ask questions about objects, organisms, and events in the environment.
Time Needed
This lesson takes several class periods. Sample schedule:
Day One: Complete the Engage and Explore portion of the lesson Day Two: Complete the Explain portion of lesson Day Three: Complete the Elaborate and Evaluate portion of the lesson
Materials for Lesson
Materials:
- egg cartons
- masking tape
- black marking pen
- construction paper
- rocks - assorted colors and sizes
- plastic bowls
- water
- rock collection
- crayons
- paper towels
- rocks of assorted sizes and weights
- white glue
- a worksheet with a scale drawn on it
- a balance scale –
Content Background
Rocks offer students a great opportunity to practice using their senses to make observations. The senses help scientists to observe properties and then use those properties to sort and classify. This activity also helps children to generate questions they may have about their rocks and to explore if all rocks are the same on the inside. This lesson engages students in exploring geodes. A geode is a sphere shaped rock which contains a hollow cavity lined with crystals. Geodes are rocks that are plain on the outside but can have beautiful crystals on the inside. In the Greek language, geode means "shape of the earth", and geodes are round like earth or oblong like an egg. They can be a couple inches or several feet in size. Geodes are created in the hollow areas of soil such as animal burrows or tree roots. They are also formed in the bubbles in volcanic rock. Over time, dissolved minerals seep into a hollow area and harden into an outer shell creating the geode. The minerals continue to form on the inside walls of the shell, growing towards the center. The most common dissolved mineral is quartz, but amethyst and other minerals are also found.
It can take hundreds of millions of years for the space inside a geode to be filled, and many geodes remain partly hollow. A geode which is completely filled with crystals is called a nodule. Agate-filled nodules are called thunder eggs.
Engage
Each child should have an egg carton. Take the children outside and have them look for rocks. Once back in the classroom, give the students a toothbrush and have them “clean” their rocks. Students should then put their rocks in their egg cartons. Ask children which rocks are big and which rocks
- Tell the children that putting something in water does not always make it change. Have the children write a sentence about the color of their rock. Go to next lesson, Some Rocks are Heavier Than Others.
Day Three:
Tell the students that they now know that rocks are different in colors and sizes. Today they are going to find out which rocks are the heaviest.
Elaborate
Ask the children can the children think of other ways that rocks are different besides their size and color?
Show several rocks. Tell them today they will find out which rocks are the heaviest.
Have the children try to tell by first looking and then by feeling which rock will be the heaviest and which one will be the lightest.
Have the children take turns putting two rocks at a time in the balance scale to see which rock is the heaviest.
They then draw a picture of a light rock and a heavy rock.
To end the lesson, ask students if they think all rocks are the same on the inside? Post the student’s predications.
Next, give each student a geode. Have them use the hammer and break open their rocks. Discuss with students that sometimes
Evaluate
Have students write how rocks can be the same and yet be different.
