Sunday, January 23, 2011

Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks

I found a fantastic way to model how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are made to Bear while browsing at Sylvan Dell publishing.

Igneous Rocks:

These rocks are formed when hot magma or lava is cooled into a solid.  Different igneous rocks form whether it is the magma or the lava that cools.  This model shows this effect.
Melt some chocolate chips in a double boiler.  (Do not get water in the chocolate chips as that will ruin the chocolate.) Pour some of the melted chocolate (the magma) down the cookie sheet "volcano side" to simulate the cooling lava.  This lava cools quickly and would form rocks like obsidian and pumice.  Let the rest of the chocolate cool in the double boiler.  This takes longer and it cools into a different looking chocolate.  This simulates the magma cooling below the ground (which usually results in rocks like granite).

Sedimentary Rocks:

Particles of sand, minerals, mud, shells and decaying matter built up in layers over the years.  The pressure of the layers over time presses the sediment into rock like sandstone and limestone.
To create your sedimentary rock, layer different things into a sandwich.  We had whole wheat bread, Muenster cheese, turkey, cheddar cheese, and whole grain bread.  Notice how some layers are thick and some layers are thin?  The same thing is seen in the layers of sedimentary rock - there are different thicknesses.

Metamorphic Rocks:

Metamorphic means "to change".  Metamorphic rocks are ones that have been changed by heat and/or pressure.
Add heat and pressure to your sedimentary sandwich...
...and now you have a metamorphic sandwich:)

Bear enjoyed her lunch of grilled cheese and chocolate for dessert.  We added carrots and pear to balance it out.

Linked to Science Sundays at Adventures in Mommydom.
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7 comments:

  1. Annette W.January 23, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    I love Sylvan Dell!

    And I think these are brilliant. Perfect!

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  2. Natalie PlanetSmartyJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    Yes - this is really very fun! Too bad that daughter doesn't like melted cheese, but maybe we can come up with a different version.

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  3. DarceyJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    This unit you are doing on rocks is great. I like your lunch ideas as well as your other rock activities and books. A couple of years ago, I worked with a girl who was getting very interested in rocks. I gave her some from my collection before she moved, but I wish she was still here so I could use some of these ideas with her. I think she would've loved it.

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  4. Montessori BeginningsJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    Brilliant! I used to love rocks when I was a kid and had a rock grinder and polisher. What a super way to learn about the different ways rocks are formed. I wish I had someone show it to me like that when I was a kid!

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  5. TiciaJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    You could make a whole meal out of "rocks."

    That is much better than the one I remember from student teaching.

    Thanks for linking up!

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  6. LoriJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    I love this rock unit. What great ideas. We already studied rocks, but I think we'll do it again and add some of your ideas. Thank you for sharing. :)

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  7. DarceyJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    I've linked up to your post on my weekly favorites here: http://play2grow.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-favorites-for-january-30-2011.html Enjoy what's left of the weekend!

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