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Igneous Rocks

Readiness

Igneous Rocks

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to explore the processes that led to the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.


Essential Understanding

The student knows Earth's surface is constantly changing and consists of useful resources.

Science Background

Rocks and Minerals: US Geological Survey (website) - Basic information about the types of rock, with particular attention to igneous rock formation, with pictures and text.

Rocks and Minerals
US Geological Survey, www.geomaps.wr.usgs.gov

Igneous Rocks: Oracle ThinkQuest (website) - Activity focused on the formation and characteristics of igneous rocks.

Igneous Rocks
Oracle ThinkQuest, www.library.thinkquest.org

Naming Igneous Rocks: US Geological Survey (website) - Students learn about the naming of igneous rocks, which is based on chemical composition.

Naming Igneous Rocks
US Geological Survey, www.geomaps.wr.usgs.gov

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

Igneous Rocks/Volcanoes: The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (website) - Students differentiate between the two types of igneous rock and identify where they come from.

Igneous Rocks/Volcanoes
The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. and Kentucky Coal Education, www.coaleducation.org

Supporting Lessons

Igneous Rocks: National Park Service (website) - This game allows students to act as molecules of rock minerals that solidify to form various igneous rocks.

Igneous Rocks
National Park Service, www.nps.gov

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Igneous Rock: Rogers Group (website) - Students learn how igneous rock forms, and that there are different types of igneous rock (intrusive and extrusive). They also create an edible igneous rock model.

Igneous Rock
Rogers Group, www.rogersgroupinc.com

Assessment Ideas

Rock Data Sheet: K8 Science/BioEd Online (PDF) - Every rock holds clues to how it was formed. Geologists are like “rock detectives” who know how to read these clues and the stories each rock can tell. For this activity, students will receive sample of igneous rock to observe. As an assessment, have them write their own versions of how their rock samples formed and complete the Rock Data Sheet.

Rock Data Sheet
K8 Science, www.k8science.org

Literature Connections

Igneous Rocks. Cefrey, Holly. (ISBN: 0823964647)

Rocks and Minerals (Pocket). Fuller, Sue. (ISBN: 0789497603)

Let's Go Rock Collecting. Gans Roma. (ISBN: 0-064-45170-4)

A Look at Rocks: From Coal to Kimberlite. Kittinger, Jo S. (ISBN: 0-531-15887-X)

Rocks and Minerals. Pellant, Chris. (ISBN: 0789491060)

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth. Cole, Joanna. (ISBN: 0-590-40760-0)

Related Science TEKS

(5.7B) Changes in Landforms from Weathering and Erosion
The student is expected to recognize how landforms such as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes are the result of changes to Earth’s surface by wind, water and ice.

(5.7D) Fossils
The student is expected to identify fossils as evidence of past living organisms and the nature of the environment at the time using models.

Related Math TEKS

5.16.A    The student is expected to make generalizations from patterns or sets of examples and nonexamples.

Additional Resources

Rocks and Minerals: Proteacher.com (website) - Check out this creative collection of geology ideas.

Rocks and Minerals
Proteacher Community, www.proteacher.com

Multimedia Rock Types: FOSSweb (website) - Students compare common rock types. To get started, teachers must create username and password for students to use by visiting the following website.

Multimedia Rock Types
FOSSweb, www.fossweb.com

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