The Story of a Rock

Schist: A Metamorphic Rock.

How the rock cycle works:  In the beginning the Schist started off as shale, a sedimentary rock. Then the little rock started to erode and was weathered away.  The rock then became melted and the solidify and exposed to high pressures and heat.  The heat and pressured formed the metamorphic rock into Slate.  After time has gone by and more heat and pressure are added, the slate will then turn into Phyllite and lastly into Schist.  Schist has a foliate texture that contains medium to coarse grain sizes.   If Schist undergoes more pressure and heat it would them metamorphic into Gniess, a foliated rock with layers of light and dark colors.  Gneiss is also harder than glass.

Simulations, Models, and Analogues

What are simulations, models, and analogues?
A simulation is a representation of an operation or enactment.  In class we simulated crystal structures by using coal, chemicals, and sponges.  Those products allowed enacted how a crystal forms over a period of a few days.

A model is a representation of an example for comparing an item or data.  In class we created models for mineral identifications. Another example of a model is a globe of the Earth to show what the Earth looks like.

Analogues are a group of chemical structures that are similar in structure but are different in element composition.  An example of this could be the different types of minerals and rocks, some share similar attributes but are made up of a different element compotsition.

What are some examples of models?
Some examples of models that deals with rocks and minerals are showing a class what some items are made up.  A teacher could hold up a pencil and ask what the lead if made up of.  The students then would answer graphite.  Other examples are pointing to drywall--gypsum, or even showing a picture of a milkshake and asking what mineral can be found in milkshakes--kaolinite. Some other models are having students build a rock using plaster-glue like solution, sand, and small pebbles to make a sandstone type of composition.  Then a student maybe able to have that rock for a long time.

*Igneous
Taking the ingredients for an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and having the children label what types of minerals and compositions are in igneous rocks.
*Metamorphic
An example of a model for metamorphic rock is for students to melt crayons and mush them together.
*Sedimentary
An example of a sedimentary rock for children is by gluing bits and pieces of cereal together using marshmallows. (Rice Crispies)



Here is a list of some great websites that have wonderful ideas to create models and representations of rocks and minerals.
http://www.science-class.net/Geology/rocks_minerals.htm
http://www.proteacher.org/c/814_rocks_and_minerals.html
http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/html/k-6/rc/rocks/1/rcr1_1a.html
http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/lesson_plans/378/Rocks%20and%20Minerals.pdf
http://www.pcschools.us/woad-local/media/sciencemap/2nd_grade/2III3RockUses.pdf

Minerals

A mineral is...
1. Natural occurring
2. Is a solid
3. Inorganic
4. Has a crystalline structure
5. Has a chemical component

 

Covalent and Ionic Bonds

Covalent Bonds are the sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bonds are opposite ionic charges that are attracted together.

The elements in the periodic table list elements that includes ionic numbers, how many protons and electrons that are in the
 



Mrs. Stewart's Crystal Garden
http://mrsstewart.com/magic-salt-crystal-garden/

Here is how to make a crystal garden by http://engineering.oregonstate.edu/momentum/k12/june04/index.html

Supplies:

• 1 container (per child) – plastic (clear polystyrene) to-go dishes work well
• Several small pieces of porous material to grow on per container – sponges, clay pot pieces, BBQ Briquettes, etc.
• Water
• Ammonia
• Laundry Bluing (such as Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing…careful it stains!)
• Salt
• 1 small paper cup to mix ingredients (Dixie Cup)
• 1 plastic spoon
• Food Coloring (optional)

Begin by mixing 2 tablespoons of salt with 4 tablespoons of water, stirring to dissolve as much salt as possible.  Next add 2 tablespoons each of ammonia and laundry bluing, again mixing as you go.  The mixture will be a blue, watery sludge.  Pour the sludge, liquid and extra salt, on top of the porous substrate in the plastic dish.  Make sure to get all the salt out of the mixing cup and onto the porous items in the plastic dish (Note: If you use a sponge, wet it first abd squeeze dry for better sludge absorbtion).  All the salt may not go into solution; this is okay as long as you pour the extra salt on top of the items in the dish.  The porous materials in the dish will not immediately soak up all the liquid; this is okay.  The crystals will naturally grow white, like the salt.  If you want colored crystals, add a drop or two of food coloring on each item in the dish. The crystals will grow that color.
Allow the container to sit open to the atmosphere overnight.  By the next day, crystals should have formed on the items in the dish and your crystal garden should be starting to bloom. You can keep the garden “in bloom” by adding 2 more tablespoons of salt on the second day, then half batches of the whole mixture from time to time.  Make sure to pour the liquid into the base of the container and not on top of the already formed crystal blooms, as it will dissolve them and you will have to start all over…which is also a lot of fun!
The garden is formed by the salt after the water and ammonia evaporate away.  The ammonia helps to speed the evaporation of the liquid from the mixture.  The laundry bluing helps to form crystal blooms instead of crystal chunks or plates.  The bluing solution is actually a colloidal suspension; it has very small particle that will not dissolve, but are held up and separated by the liquid.  As the water evaporates away, the salt forms crystals using the colloidal particles as a seed, or nucleus, for growth.  The liquid mixture and the salt are pulled away from the bottom of the container up to the tops of the porous material by capillary action, much the same way water spreads through a sponge.  This allows you to add more mixture to the bottom and have your garden bloom and grow forever.  You could experiment by leaving out the ammonia or bluing, or changing the ratios in the recipe.