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The Rock Cycle and Crystal Formation

published on: 1/8/2009

Contributing Teacher(s): Diane Fitzgibbons

Subject Area: Science/Earth, Science/Integrated

Grade Range: Middle Grades (6-8)

Materials Needed: The unit has four parts:

• Part one needs scissors and glue.
• Part two needs colored pencils.
• Part three needs the internet, toothpicks and gumdrops.
• Part four needs Copper Sulfate powder, egg shell halves (cleaned), boiling water, stir rods, and the internet.

Objective:

1. Students will apply knowledge of the rock cycle to two types of visual display, then students will review the concepts involved in sedimentary crystal formation and create their own "geodes".

Essential Question:

1. How do crystals form and what part of the rock cycle are they?

Instructional Strategy: Prior Knowledge & Connections

Process Standards:

• Goal 1.5 comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works
• Goal 1.10 apply acquired information, ideas and skills to different contexts as students, workers, citizen

Content Standards:

• Science 1. Properties and principles of matter and energy
• Science 5. Processes (such as plate movement, water cycle, air flow) and interactions of earth’s biosphere, atmos...
• Science 7. Processes of scientific inquiry (such as formulating and testing hypotheses)

  Time Allowance: 4-6/Class periods

  Technological Resources:
  

  1. Two parts of four need the internet sources listed in the unit.

  Extensions:
  The third part of the unit consists of two versions of a "make your own geode" lab. Advanced students can have the opportunity to participate in the inquiry version of the "crystal growth" lab, in which they can experiment with the concentration of solution (of water vs. copper sulfate powder) to find which type of saturation grows the biggest crystals.

  Integration:
  The third part of the unit is written in two versions of "make your own geode" so that students can go through more of a step-by-step lab process instead of the longer inquiry version. Also, in the second part concerning "rock cycle comics", a word bank is provided.

  Differentiation:
  

  1. Word Bank
  2. Internet options

  Description: This unit consists of four lessons beginning with the basics of the rock cycle made into a flow-chart. The second lesson applies the basic information of the rock cycle into a visual display and story, creating a "comic book" type application. The third lesson in the unit concentrates on crystals that can form in nature due to certain sedimentary conditions and is a study of the six main types of crystal lattice systems found in nature. The last lesson in the unit is make up of a lab in which students can "make their own geode" as it would appear in nature in some sedimentary rock (using copper sulfate crystals in egg shells) to mimic a geode. This lab is made up of two versions, one being a longer inquiry lab on crystal growth.

  Comments:
  

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  Classroom Component:

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  For additional information contact :
  Diane Fitzgibbons
  Brittany Hill Middle
  Blue Springs R-IV
  (816) 224-1700
  EMAIL: dfitzgibbons@bssd.net