Sunday, August 1, 2010

Science Sunday ~ Rocks Week 2

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This week we focused on the three types of rocks ~ sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. To demonstrate how these rocks are formed we made edible rocks.  I found the information here.  Warning ~ these contain LOTS of sugar!

We started out talking about sedimentary rocks which are formed when layers of sand, small bits of rock, clay, plants, bones and mud are piled on top of each other and eventually get compressed and harden into rocks.  Sedimentary rocks are often formed in river and lake bottoms.   I asked the kids why water was important?  Emily’s answer ~ The water carries the “stuff” down the river.

To demonstrate how sedimentary rocks are formed we used the following to represent the different layers ~ bread (dirt), graham crackers (sand), crunchy peanut butter (mud with small rocks in it), strawberry jelly (dried leaves and twigs) and grape jelly (bones).  We put a layer of each on our bread

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and the kids compressed their sedimentary “rocks”.

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Next up Igneous rocks which are formed from melted rock.  I asked the kids what would be hot enough to melt rock?  The answer ~ a volcano.

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To make our edible igneous rocks we used butterscotch and chocolate chips to represent the different kinds of minerals founds in rocks. 

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Melted them in the microwave to show that once it is heated you can no longer see the individual minerals (chips).IMG_3110 

We put our hot magma on waxed paper and stuck them in the fridge to cool.

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The last rock we talked about was metamorphic rocks which are formed when rocks and minerals have been heated and compressed, forming a new rock.  The process does not melt the rocks completely like igneous rocks it just transforms them into denser more compact rocks.

For this experiment we used sugar cookie dough and 3 colors of food coloring.  We divided the dough into 3 equal sections and added 5 drops of different food coloring to each section. 

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We rolled balls out of each color, and the kids compressed them.

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Then we baked them (heat)

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and enjoyed our metamorphic “rocks”.

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For more fun with science, check out Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.

~Cindy

15 comments:

Little Wonders' Days said...

I like your kind of science! Really though, such a fun way to teach kids.

Melissa N. said...

Very nice. Thanks so much for sharing!

Ticia said...

interesting..... I think I learned rice krispie treats as a form of igneous rocks, but yours is a much better example.

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

I love that you had edible versions for all the types of rocks, and not just one - fun!

Leigh said...

Wow! That looks like fun, and it's making me hungry :)

Pebblekeeper ~ Angie said...

Hmmm. I'm confused. I'm not sure I understand. I think I'll have to recreate the experiments here and see if tasting them makes it more clear . . . . . . . :)

Anonymous said...

There was a lot of super yummy things this week!

Jolanthe said...

LOVE the edible rock ideas!! :) You are such a creative momma!

Jill S said...

Great job thinking through to something they could understand. Really clever.

Rebecca said...

This is my kind of science! But seriously, what a great way to teach this!

Jenni said...

Your cookies rock! What a fun way to learn!

Just visiting from the TOS crew. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

~Jenni, Crewbie

Elise said...

That is one fun way to understand and always remember the different types of rocks.

We have been reading the book: Everybody needs A Rock by Byrd Baylor. This has also inspired us to go hunting for some rocks and use them to make some pet rocks and rock creations.

Davene said...

I think I'd like the igneous best. ;-)

What a great way to teach this!

Adriane said...

These are great ideas! I will definitely have to do these when we study rocks again.

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