5th grade ROCKS AND MINERALS


                                    I N T R O D U C T I O N :
Ok, so here's the deal everyone; the world has no recordings of our past. Everything was erased in a timewarp lastnight while you were sleeping. Somehow everyone woke up with no memories of anything and nothing to show for it. No pictures, letters, newspapers or anything! Somehow several local geologists found out that we are studying our changing earth and rocks and minerals in our classroom. They know as well as we do, that we can figure out some interesting facts about our state through these natural leftovers. They can't do it alone, time is short and people want to know where they are and what this place is all about. So, they have asked for our help to put some pieces of the puzzle together.  They would like us to help them by becoming rocks and minerals detectives.  Our job will be to collect clues about rocks and minerals that are used in the Vermont area to share our findings with the local community. LETS ROCK!
                                THE ROCK HARD CHALLENGE:
You and a partner have a piece of rock found in Vermont. It was given to us by our local geologists and they need you to do the investigating about this rock. What does it tell us about where we live? But first you need some solid rock background information. ROCK AND ROLL!

                            THE JOURNEY TO DISCOVERY:
FOR A SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION
Take notes. Document anything interesting and questions or concerns you may have. Visit the links. Watch the short video clips for a visual aid.

Now that you have your solid rock foundation begin to observe your rock with your partner. What are you noticing? What have you read and learned that relates to this rock? Take notes and document everything. Drawings and labeling are helpful too!

Ok so now you are ready to really begin your investigation. What rock do you even have? This site contains a list of rocks in Vermont. What significance does your rock hold for the state of Vermont?  What can you suppose as a result of the information you are gathering? Don't forget to draw back on the information you have gathered from the previous website. Relate and connect the different information as best you can.
HOW ROCKS ARE FORMED
VERMONT STATE ROCKS
ROCKS AND MINERAL SLIDE SHOW
            SOME KEY WORDS TO HELP YOUR JOURNEY TO DISCOVERY:
  •       MINERALS
  •       FOSSILS
  •       GEOLOGY
  •       ROCK FORMATION
  •       IDENTIFYING ROCKS