rock activities

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Home : 2003 : January : 27

rock activities
By Rebecca

This is an activity I did today on the three types of rocks. You will need the following........

milk choc. chips
white choc. chips
butterscotch or peanut butter chips
ziploc bags(sandwich size)
ice water (in
a cup)
pretty warm water (in a cup)
waxed paper
I usually set this up on a display table. I have them gather around but NOT too close since I have pretty warm water!
Show some chips and tell them that the chips represent broken rock.
Put each kind of the chips in its own ziploc. (I usually "zap" them beforehand in the microwave to get them soft but NOT melted)
Volunteers

can use heat and pressure from their hands to form the rock chips into a single rock. (represents metamorphic).

Next, on waxed paper press each rock flat with waxed paper on top, then press each flat rock on top of each other to form layers(represents sedimentary) You can use a plastic knife to cut in half to expose the layers if you want.

Next take half of the rock and place it in a ziploc. Make sure the ziploc is fastened then place it in the hot water. If a couple of minutes it will melt. I usually dry the ziploc off and take it around so everyone can feel the melted "rock". Then I place the bag in ice cold water for a few minutes. Then the rock hardens. (the melting and cooling represents igneous). Then I let them feel the hard "rock". Next I break the rock into pieces and this represents weathering.

Then we enjoy eating a bite of "rock". They love this and it really helps them to "see" what happens.

I have a nice rock collection that I made in college that I share with them. I have magnifying glasses, a scratch test kit for them to experiment with them. Then I have them collect rocks for a collection to present at the end of the unit. I usually say 12 rocks, put them in an egg carton, and categorize them into the way they look (shiny, dull). They enjoy rock collecting.

Hope this helps!