The Rock Family
An exploration of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks using Internet, note-taking, and concept mapping skills.
Content - Class 1:
1. Brainstorm as a class: Imagine that you have been asked to do a project on the rock family. You must provide information about the three main types of rocks within the family – metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary. What specific facts will you need? What will you look for when searching for good Websites?
Prompt students to think about things such as: pictures of each type of rock, examples, information about how they are formed and where they are found, etc. Record student responses on the interactive whiteboard. Use these responses to guide students through the next step.
2. Using the teacher made electronic worksheet “Choose the one you like best” students will visit and analyze each of THREE pre-selected websites relating to the three types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary), and select the one they prefer by inserting an asterisk next to it. Students will respond to three questions and enter their responses on the worksheet. Their chosen site will be used to complete the remainder of the lesson. If the worksheet is used electronically, make available in a shared folder and prompt students to “save as” at the end of class to a pre-existing class folder.
If time remains in this class, students will be asked to visit the following website to see an animation of the rock cycle process:
www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page02.cfm
This site can be accessed by the link at the bottom of the electronic “Choose the one you like best” worksheet.