Dear Parents,
We are discussing rocks - how they are formed, their uses, and how to identify them. The three types of rocks - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic - have been discussed and sampled. Level One are labeling igneous rock as volcanic rock. This is not completely accurate, but it lays a nice foundation for more advanced Earth Science in the years ahead.
Level One
Please ask your student to sing the "Three Types of Rock" song for you! It is to the tune of "Are You Sleeping, Brother John."
Volcanic - formed when molten rock cools
Sedimentary - layers of sediment (sand, silt, mud) settle onto the bottom of a body of water
Metamorphic - rock changed by heat and pressure
I may be holding your student's notebook. Some asked that I hang onto it, so they would be sure to have it each week. We are placing notes and pictures on the pages weekly. If you would like to see it, please ask your cherub to bring it home.
Level Two
We have made rock samples with candy. Igneous is cooled molten rock. Our demonstration was melting chocolate chips and then cooling them again. What a tasty rock!
For sedimentary rock formed in layers, we compacted bread and other food stuff into sedimentary sandwiches.
Metamorphic is changed by heat and pressure. We squeezed a Milky Way and then sat on it during class.
We will be composing a booklet on these three formations. It will be coming home next week.
I have asked these students to prepare a quick oral presentation for class next Tuesday on one rock. Your student should have received a piece of paper with a type of rock. He or she should research where that rock is found and how it is used. Since this is a first presentation for many students, we are only looking for three things - eye contact, good volume and correct information. Please let me know if you have any questions on this assignment.
Level Three
This is a good video on a upper middle school/high school level. It covers the three rock types and the rock cycle. The rock cycle will be our focus next week.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=three+types+of+rocks&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=D677C14D425625133CE5D677C14D425625133CE5
Please let me know if you have any questions.
:) Libby
libbymonte@yahoo.com
