Rock Cycle - Rocks (6B)
Pre Lab 

   
OBJECTIVES:
  • Exploring decorative uses of rocks.
  • Designing a landscape for urban living.
VOCABULARY:
  • concrete
  • decorative
  • landscape
MATERIALS:
  • examples of decorative rocks
  • magazines that show landscaping

Students design a rock garden


a rock garden

BACKGROUND:

Rocks are not only interesting geologically, but they are also an important source of revenue. Ask your students why different rocks are important. Some of the students may answer that rare and important minerals such as gold and silver can be found in rocks. Many students, however, may not realize that rocks are important to the basic structure of a city.

For example, landscaping and gardening use many different types of rocks. However, many stores that sell rocks often call them by names that are different from what a geologist would use.

PROCEDURE:

  1. Have your students imagine a world without rocks. There would be no bricks, concrete buildings, roads, and many other familiar items. Cemeteries would be without gravestones. Bathrooms would be without marble. Explain to the students that mineral resources such as copper, silver, oil, and iron must be mined in order to make the materials that we use at home, play, or work.
     
  2. Write the legend below on the board. You may want to add more materials that are appropriate to your area. Decide as a group what the symbol should be for each material. If you have examples of these rocks, show them to the class.

GEOLOGIC NAME

COMMERCIAL NAME

SYMBOL

PUMICE

FEATHER ROCK

 

SCORIA

RED LAVA ROCK

 

BASALT

BLACK LAVA

 

DOLOMITE

DOLOMITE

 

GRANITE

GRANITE

 

SHRUBS

SHRUBS

 

RIVER PEBBLES

BLACK AND WHITE

 
  1. Have the students design a "rock" garden. Use the worksheet to help guide students. You may want to use a layout of the your school. You may want to make this a weekend homework assignment so the students can go out in the neighborhood to investigate if anyone has landscaped their home with rocks. Students can also go to a local nursery or landscaping store and discover all the rocks they sell.

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