We discussed igneous rocks (Molten rock sometimes comes up through cracks in the earth. Then it is called lava. When lava cools it is called igneous rock. Igneous means "made by fire.") and then melted gummy bears to see how this type of rock is formed.
Then we talked about metamorphic rocks. They are igneous rocks or sedimentary rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure. The igneous rock granite changes into gneiss. The sedimentary rock limestone changes into marble. We looked through the rock kit my dad gave me and found some igneous rocks (and sedimentary rocks) and then the metamorphic rock that it changed into. We also made a simple sedimentary rock with layers of bread and chocolate chips. Then the kids used the heat and pressure in their hands to change it into a metamorphic rock.
Then we started learning about minerals. We went through the box and found several minerals then learned what everyday objects they make. Sulfur can be made into matches, copper is used in electrical wires and pipes, halite is used to make table salt, and magnetite is an important ore of iron that is in steel. We talked about mining minerals and how we have to be careful to keep the Earth as intact as possible--being good stewards of the Earth. We've learned about conservation in the past and being good stewards of what God has given us. It was a good reminder. We experimented with mining. The kids were given a chocolate chip cookie (the Earth and the diamonds that needed to be extracted), a toothpick (their pick ax), and a marker (their hammer), and they had to get the chocolate chips out without destroying the cookie. This activity is supposed to be done with the crunch Chip's Ahoy cookies, but I didn't want to buy them, so I made some. They are softer, but I think the idea still got through to the kids.
We will do more with categorizing minerals next week.
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