OBJECTIVES:

• Writing sentences on rocks.
• Developing a story about rocks.

VOCABULARY:

• igneous
• metamorphic
• sedimentary

MATERIALS:

• worksheet

Students write sentences about rocks.

BACKGROUND:

Writers often use images in order to get a point across to their readers. Phrases like "blue like the sea, green as the grass, red as blood" are examples. Some writers have even used rocks to convey these images. Hard as a rock is probably the most common example. During the lab the students examined and identified 10 rocks, which had a wide variety of characteristics. In this exercise, they will develop sentences that describe some of these identifying features. The objective is for children to use characteristics of a particular rock as descriptive terms.

PROCEDURE:

1. Review the names of the rocks studied in the lab exercise.
    
2. Next, have the students fill out the worksheet by creating sentences that go along with each of the phrases.
    
3. Below are some suggestions on what the children may write. You may have to help them along if they have never done an exercise like this.

   RED AS SCORIA
   My sister fell down and her knee is as red as scoria.

   WHITE AND BLACK LIKE GRANITE
   If you mix salt and pepper it looks white and black like granite.

   GLASSY LIKE OBSIDIAN
   The bottle broke and was glassy like obsidian.

   GRAINY LIKE SANDSTONE
   The sand paper was grainy like sandstone.

   FLAT AS SHALE
   He stepped on the hat and it was as flat as shale.

   SMOOTH AS SERPENTINITE
   The furniture was smooth as serpentinite.

   SHINY AS SCHIST
   The dress she wore to the party was shiny as schist.

   GRAY LIKE MARBLE
   When Harry saw the accident, his face was gray like marble.

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