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Uses of Rocks

Uses of Rocks

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to gather evidence of how rocks, soil, and water help to make useful products.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that the natural world includes rocks, soil, and water that can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.

Science Background

Rocks and Minerals, Every Day Uses: University of Oregon (website) – Interactive gallery of commonplace items made from rocks and minerals.

Rocks and Minerals, Every Day Uses
University of Oregon, www.uoregon.edu

What is Geology? What does a Geologist Do? Geology.com (website) - Learn the fundamentals of geology and the work of a geologist.

What is Geology? What does a Geologist Do?
Geology.com

Resources for Teachers and Students of Geoscience in Texas: Bureau of Economic Geology (website) - Numerous resources related to geology and Earth science, including links to publications, a virtual rock kit, Earthview Texas, and more.

Resources for Teachers and Students of Geoscience in Texas
Bureau of Economic Geology, www.beg.utexas.edu

Signature Lesson

Uses of Earth Materials: FOSSWEB (website) - Students discuss and gather evidence that shows how rocks are used to make useful products.

Uses of Earth Materials
FOSSWEB, www.fossweb.com

Supporting Lessons

Washing Rocks Outdoors: FOSS Pebbles, Sand, and Silt (PDF) - Students collect from their schoolyards and discover that rocks can be found everywhere. (Activity starts on page 1.)

Washing Rocks Outdoors
FOSSWEB, www.fossweb.com

How We Use Rocks: Utah Education Network (website) – Students gather evidence about useful rocks in their immediate vicinity.

How We Use Rocks
Utah Education Network, www.uen.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Collecting Rocks: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - Students acquire knowledge of rocks, how they are formed, how they are used, and how to collect them.

Collecting Rocks
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us

Rock, Rocks & More Rocks: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - Introductory lesson in which students observe and sort rocks according to geologic properties.

Rock, Rocks & More Rocks
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us

Rocks and Minerals: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - A series of hands-on investigations that illustrate how rocks and minerals are used, and provide examples of their importance in everyday life.

Rocks and Minerals
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us

Assessment Ideas

Have students create a four-page book, with each page beginning with, Rocks may be used ____ . Have students add a picture to enhance each page and verbally describe how the rocks are used.

Literature Connections

Let’s Go Rock Collecting. Gans, Roma (ISBN 0064451703)

Rocks: Hard, Sort, Smooth, and Rough. Rosinsky, Natalie (ISBN 1404800158)

Related Science TEKS

(1.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to recognize and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(1.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to recognize the importance of safe practices to keep self and others safe and healthy.

(1.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and learn how to use natural resources and materials, including conservation and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metals.

(1.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(1.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

(1.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.

(1.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words.

(1.2E) Communicate Observations
The student is expected to communicate observations with others about simple descriptive investigations.

(1.3A) Identify,Explain and Propose a Solution to a Problem
The student is expected to identify and explain a problem such as finding a home for a classroom pet and propose a solution in his/her own words.

(1.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

(1.3C) Explore Scientists
The student is expected to describe what scientists do.

(1.4A) Tools for Collecting Information
The student is expected to collect information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, primary balances, cups, bowls, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and timers; non-standard measuring items such as paper clips and clothespins; weather instruments such as demonstration thermometers and wind socks; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(1.4B) Non-Standard Measurement Units
The student is expected to measure organisms and objects and parts of organisms and objects, using non-standard units.

Related Math TEKS

1.7F     The student is expected to compare and order two or more objects according to weight/mass (from heaviest to lightest).

1.9A    The student is expected to collect and sort data.

1.11B   The student is expected to solve problems with guidance that incorporates the processes of understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness.

1.11C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, or acting it out in order to solve a problem.

1.12A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

1.13A  The student is expected to justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Junior GeoKids Rocks and Soil Unit: Saint Joseph’s University (PDF) - Observe, describe and compare rocks by size, shape, color and texture throughout this 12-week module.

Junior GeoKids Rocks and Soil Unit
Saint Joseph’s University, www.sju.edu

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