This unit introduces students to the rock cycle. Students study the three types of rocks, how they are formed, as well as how they are recycled in the rock cycle process. During this project, students become amateur geologists and try to find representative samples of the types of rocks they are studying in and around their neighborhoods. Another aspect of this unit involves student presentations. Students in small teams, create a presentation of their own design and present it to their classmates, parents and guardians who are in attendance. The use of technology is fundamental in completing this unit. Technology used includes: TI-84 calculators, digital cameras, laptop computers, the Internet, projectors, document cameras,and video conferencing equipment. You may download a brief summary of the unit in pdf format by clicking the link below.
Credits: Picture courtesy of www.ocean/jon/luini.com

Click on the download button for a copy of the lesson plan to be used with Nature's Way of Recycling Rocks unit, in pdf format for your convenience.

Overview:
Students learn about the rock cycle by first watching an eight minute video on the subject from United Streaming.
Referenced Video Clip: The Rock Cycle: Three Types of Rocks.
Basics of Geology: All About Rocks and Minerals. United Learning. 1998. unitedstreaming. 12 October 2005 <www.unitedstreaming.com/>

Objectives:
1) To show an understanding of the rock cycle.
2) To differeniate between the stages of the rock cycle.
3) To summarize the steps of the rock cycle.

Content Standards: Texas State Standards
TEKS 8th Grade Science:
(8.12) The student knows that cycles exist in Earth systems.
(A)The student is expected to analyze and predict the sequence of events in the lunar and rock cycles.

§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Subchapter B. Middle School
(126.12)(C) (1) (objective F), (C) (2) (objective A).

Students complete the Different Types of Rocks worksheet as they proceed through the tutorials about rocks on the Internet. Students continue learning about the three types of rocks by interacting with this website.The Three Types of Rocks
Credits: Picture courtesy of www.matt-willard.com

You may print a pdf copy of the worksheet by clicking the download button.

Overview:
Students are required to make a note taking worksheet and then visit teacher selected websites to learn to classify and categorize the three types of rocks found on earth.

Objectives
1) to learn to differentiate between the three types of rocks.
2) to be able to classify rocks by their characteristics.

Content Standards: Texas State Standards
TEKS 8th Grade Science:
(8.12) The student knows that cycles exist in Earth systems.
(A)The student is expected to analyze and predict the sequence of events in the lunar and rock cycles.

§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Subchapter B. Middle School
(126.12)(C) (1) (objective F),(C) (2) (objective A), (C) (4) (objective A).

Follow up activity
Various students display their completed worksheets using the document camera and discuss answers to be sure all have the correct information.

Designing a worksheet
Students make and print an information sheet using Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat. As they progress through the lessons, they are required to make a list of common characteristics of each type of rock.

Igneous Rocks
Students learn about igneous rocks by following this link Igneous Rocks

Students view representative samples by linking to Igneous Rocks
Credits: Picture courtesy of www.k12.nf.ca/sjis/rocks/igneous

Students learn about sedimentary rocks by following this link Sedimentary Rocks

Students view representative samples by linking to Sedimentary Rocks
Picture courtesy of www.k12.nf.ca/sjis/rocks/sedimentary

Students learn about metamorphic rocks by following this link Metamorphic Rocks

Students view representative samples by linking to Metamorphic Rocks
Picture courtesy of www.k12.nf.ca/sjis/rocks/metamorphic

Students pretend that they are geologists. They assigned the task of collecting three rocks of what they believe to be each type they have been studying and bring them to class. They are to find these samples from around their homes and neighborhoods.

Content Standards: Texas State Standards
TEKS 8th Grade Science:
(8.1) Scientific processes. The student conducts field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate and ethical practices.
(A)The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations.

Click the download button to view a printable version of the worksheet they are given.

Overview:
Students create and print a chart to list all information obtained during the lab.
Students examine, classify, categorize, and take measurements of their rock samples. Students may refer to the websites visited earlier to aid them in identification.
Students use a variety of lab equipment including but not limited to: graduated cylinders, digital scales, document cameras, digital cameras, and TI-84's.

Objectives:
1) To examine and classify the different rock samples collected.
2) To document rocks as to type, mass, density, and texture.
3) To produce a chart listing all the information collected during the lab.

Content Standards: Texas State Standards
TEKS 8th Grade Science:
(8.1) Scientific processes. The student conducts field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate and ethical practices.
(A)The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations.
(8.4) Scientific processes. The student knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science inquiry.

Students develop a rock identification table of their own design using laptop computers and word processing software.
A sample may be obtained by clicking the download button.

Overview:
Students take the Rocks and the Rock Cycle exam online. When the test is finished, students use adobe acrobat to create an evaluation form to use in critiquing their classmate's presentations. Then sudents working in small groups approved by the teacher, work together to develop presentations to be shown to classmates and attending parents and guardians.

Objectives
1) Students create presentations using any of the technology available to them.
2)Students critique each others presentations and offer suggestions for improvement.
3)Students complete the Rock and Rock Cycle Exam administered online.
4) Students create an evaluation form using adobe acrobat.

§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Subchapter B. Middle School
(126.12)(C) (1) (objectives A,C,F), (C) (2) (objective A), (C) (7) (objectives A, C), (C) (8) (objectives C,E)

Students create their presentations using any or all of the technology available to them.
Students are allowed to create any type of presentation, but must have prior approval from the teacher.
Students who create Power Point presentations are allowed to develop them as they wish as long as they meet the following requirements:
A) Power Points must have a minimum of twelve slides.
B) Slides must be informative but not "wordy".
C) At least one half of the slides must include pictures, either student made using our digital cameras, or from the Internet.
D) Presentations must not be longer than 7 minutes in length.

Presentations other than Power Point presentations, must meet the following guidelines:
A) Presentations must be of a visual nature.
B) Presentations must include pictures either student created using our digital cameras, or from the Internet.
C) Presentations must be no longer than 7 minutes in length.

By the end of this unit, students complete this online virtual exam about rocks and the rock cycle and email the results to the teacher: abilene.region14.net/webs/marksj/rock_test.asp

Student groups present their presentations to their classmates, and attending parents and guardians. The attending audience have the opportunity to help evaluate the presentations by filling out the online evaluation form found at this link: abilene.region14.net/webs/marksj/evaluation.asp

§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Subchapter B. Middle School
(126.12)(C) (10) (objectives A,D,E), (C) (11) (objectives A,B,C), (C) (12) (objectives B,D),

Click on the download button to view an example of a student presentation using our document camera.

The best presentation will have the opportunity to video conference with another group in the United States or perhaps somewhere else in the world, to view and discuss common characteristics of rocks found in their areas. This videoconferencing session helps students recognize that rocks have similar properties and characteristics all over the world.

§126.12. Technology Applications (Computer Literacy), Subchapter B. Middle School
(126.12)(C)(11)(objective C),