What Are Rocks Made Of?

Summary

This activity will help students understand that: Rocks can sometimes be recognized by the different minerals seen in them and are defined as mixtures of minerals that are not in the same ratio from rock to rock.

Materials

• Broken pieces of granite (from two different types of granite, if possible)
• hand lenses
• stereoscopes (if available)
• hammer
• marker (water soluble if you want to protect your samples, permanent if you want permanent marks on them)
• pictures of rocks (attached)
• student sheet (attached)

Instructional Procedures

1. Granite is widely available in many places in Utah. River rocks and many of our mountain ranges (Wasatch, Oquirrh, Uinta etc) are made of granite. Weathered granite is fairly easy to crumble with a hammer.
2. At a minimum, each student group needs a piece of granite and a hand lens. If you have additional rock types or stereoscopes, add them to your directions.
3. Read the introduction with students and describe the location and use of the materials.
4. Ask the students to share their ratios on the board as they make the calculations.
5. Print a classroom set of the pictures of the rocks or show them on a projector.

Assessment Plan

Scoring Guide:
1. Students participate………………………………………………4
2. Students record data and calculate percentages....……………………..4
3. Students answer questions correctly………………………………………4


Answers will vary:

1. the ratios do vary between types of granite but if the same rocks were used, there will not be much variety.
2. the minerals are too small or well mixed.
3. minerals
4. 1. rock
   2. mineral
   3. rock
   4. mineral
   5. rock
   6. mineral
   7. rock
   8. rock

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.