Sedimentary Rocks
Readiness
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
Sedimentary Rocks: US Geological Survey (website) - Basic information about different types of sedimentary rocks and how they are formed.
Sedimentary Rocks
US Geological Survey, www.geomaps.wr.usgs.gov
The Making of Sedimentary Rocks: Schoolyard Geology (website) - Explains the process through which sedimentary rocks form in pictures and text.
When Rocks Tell Stories: Schoolyard Geology (website) - Compare, contrast and learn to “read” the features (color, grain, etc.) of sedimentary rocks to understand their composition and history.
When Rocks Tell Stories
US Geological Survey, Schoolyard Geology, www.education.usgs.gov/schoolyard
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.
Signature Lesson
Making Sedimentary Rocks: The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (PDF) - Students make three different sedimentary rocks to understand that sedimentary rocks are formed by the cementing together of smaller pieces of rocks, or from the accumulation of plant material.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Sedimentary Rocks: Geology Online (website) - Introduce students to the rock cycle and help them to understand how a sedimentary rock is formed.
Sedimentary Rocks Activities: The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (website) - Students learn that most sedimentary rocks, such as coal, are formed underwater in swamps, lakes, seas, and oceans.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Sedimentary Rock Snacks: Oracle ThinkQuest (website) - “Build” and bake a layered cookie to demonstrate the formation and composition of sedimentary rocks.
Sedimentary Rock Snacks
Oracle ThinkQuest, library.thinkquest.org
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.
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.
Literature Connections
What Are Sedimentary Rocks? Hyde, Natalie (ISBN-10 0778772357)
Rocks and Minerals. 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)
Additional Resources
Elementary Rock Cycle Experiments: eHow.com (website) - Investigate the differences between metamorphic rocks and other types of rocks.
Elementary Rock Cycle Experiments
by Alicia Bodine, eHow, www.ehow.com
TEKS Navigation
Grade 5
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