Take your Pick Homework Tasks

The Story of a Rock

The rock cycle is just that- a cycle. Rocks do not go through the cycle only once, but again and again. Neither do they go through the cycle in the same direction, but different directions.

Write a comic strip type story about a rock that goes through the rock cycle more than once, taking a different path each time.

For example, the rock might begin inside of a volcano and come out as an igneous rock, then combine with other materials to become a sedimentary rock, after some time it may encounter heat and pressure and become metamorphic, then recombine with entirely different materials to become sedimentary again.

Be creative with your story, include the feelings and thoughts of the rock character in your writing.

You can choose to write your story in either the 1^st person or 3^rd person, whatever you choose be consistent.

Rock Cycle Cakes

You can use baking to explain how the three types of rocks form.

Sedimentary Rock Formation

Sedimentary rocks are formed when weathering and erosion break down sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous rocks into small bits, or sediments. These sediments are then transported (by ice, air, water, etc.)

and deposited in various places. Once they have been deposited, the sediments may be buried by other sediments and turned into rock through compaction (pressure caused from the weight of sediments above) and cementation

Objective: Students will be able to describe how sedimentary rocks are formed.

Materials: The ingredients represent various types of rocks  (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary).

• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup dried apricots
• 1 cup pitted dates
• ¼ cup candied cherries
• 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup dried figs
• ½ cup candied orange peel
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• large mixing bowl
• 8″ x 8″ x 2″ baking pan
• margarine (to grease pan)
• grinder or blender
•  
  • Place the “rocks” into the blender.              
    • Physical break down / weathering of the rocks
  • Add orange juice then mix together.                       
    • Cemented by liquid and minerals
  • Carry the sediment over to the pan                         
    • Transported
  • Pour into the greased pan.                                      
    • Deposited
  • Use a spoon to mash the ingredients down, or cover the “sediments” with wax paper and place a book on top .
    • sediment compacted over 100s of years

Procedure:

Refrigerate overnight. The next day, cut the snack bars into squares and observe.

You may wish to answer the questions below in your research jotter..  

What do you notice about your sedimentary snack?

How has it changed from the original “sediments” you used to make it?

What holds the “sediments” together?

How did your “sedimentary rock” get its shape?

Explain how sedimentary rocks are formed.

How did your “sedimentary rock” get its shape?

Explain how sedimentary rocks are formed.

Now eat and enjoy your sedimentary snack.

Why not try making metamorphic chocolate chip cookies

• Notice how when you mix the ingredients it is a similar process to the creation of sedimentary rocks, with the chips becoming a part of the cookie but not changing at all. Whilst the cookies bake, the heat of the oven melts the chocolate chips slightly, so that the rocks become metamorphic rocks.

OR Igneous Fudge

• Try making fudge to see how igneous rocks are formed. Explain what happens to your ingredients and how this is similar to the formation of igneous rocks.