Glencoe Earth Science - New York Edition

Unit 1: Earth Materials

Rock name and sample

Project Type: Model
Provide students with a rock name and sample and have them research information on their particular type of rock. Students may then plan a debate to present the advantages and disadvantages of their type of rock in the following categories: use in construction, weathering, leisure and entertainment value, beauty and art, currency, energy production and use, tools and weapons manufacturing, and food and drink. A class chart of this may be compiled by the student.

Task: Debate
Provide two or four students with the same rock to research (allow a week to research), divide the students in to two groups; Advantage (pro) and Disadvantage (con).

  • Allow each group five minutes to discuss the pro categories or con categories of the rock
  • Allow each group three minutes of rebuttal of the opposing opinion
  • Allow five minutes at the end for question form the class for either side to answer

Time:
1 week to research, 2-3 days to prepare for the debate and enough class time to present all the types of rocks

Alternate Procedure::
Have student write a report on their rock that contains the advantages and disadvantages of their type of rock in the following categories: use in construction, weathering, leisure and entertainment value, beauty and art, currency, energy production and use, tools and weapons manufacturing, and food and drink.

Resources:
Use the following sites to help students research information on their particular type of rock.

Rocks for kids:
http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/TableofContents.html

Rock Identification Key
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/rockkey/#granite

Encyclopedia
Type in the name of the rock
http://www.encyclopedia.com

The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdome
http://www.minerals.net/

Rubric:

Click here for a rubric to help score this project. (65.0K)

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