A Grounded Exploration

Let’s investigate to understand how different forms of rock are made.

When you step outside in Vermont, you can easily see mountains all around you. It has taken millions of years for the mountains to form. Vermont is one of the few states in the east to have large mountain ranges. As residents of Vermont, we should take the time to learn about what kind of rock our mountains are made of.

As we have been learning in class, the three different forms of rock called igneous, sedimentary and metaphoric. Each form of rock is part of the rock cycle.

Mission

How many times have you picked up a rock outside and wondered how it was formed? Your mission is to research what happens to rocks in each step of their journey.

1. Write a brief description of how each form of rock develops.

2. Find one example of each type of rock and what that rock can be used for.

3. What is the most popular form of rock in Vermont?

4. Where is the largest quarry in Vermont?

Journey

Click on the websites below to help you on your mission.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/rocks/rockcycle.shtml

http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/index2.html

www.anr.state.vt.us/h/vtgeoinx.htm

www.statehousegirls.net/vt/symbols/rock/

Would you like to do more research? Use key words such as “rocks”, “igneous rock”, “sedimentary rock”, “metaphoric rock” or “rocks in Vermont”.

www.Yahooligans.com

http://www.learningplanet.com/

http://www.ajkids.com/

If you have any questions or comments e-mail me

jtrivett@uvm.edu