Does+that+rock+have+a+future?


 * Focus Question: //Does that rock have a future?// ** ** Read: ** Review introductory material about rocks. What is the difference?
 * The terms //rock// and //mineral// are often lumped together. Unfortunately, people often assume these words mean the same thing. Rocks and minerals are, in fact, different.
 * Minerals are pure substances. They are made up of only one thing. A mineral is a naturally-formed solid with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. The properties of a mineral do not change over time.
 * Rocks, on the other hand, are mixtures. In other words, rocks can be made up of many things. Rocks are typically made up of two or more different minerals. The properties of a particular rock depend on the properties of all of the minerals it is composed of. Change one mineral and you change the properties of the rock.

How many types of rocks are there?
 * A rock is classified into one of three categories — //igneous//, //metamorphic//, or //sedimentary// — depending on how it formed.

What happens to them?
 * Have you ever thought about what happens to a rock after it has formed? Does an igneous rock always remain an igneous rock? What about sedimentary and metamorphic rocks? What happens to them?
 * Some rocks stay buried beneath the earth after they form and can remain the same for billions of years. If something happens to push the rock toward the earth's surface, the rock will probably undergo some drastic changes. These changes can be so dramatic that the rock might even be transformed from one type to another. Through this Web Inquiry, you will learn how these changes occur.

** Research: ** Explore the designated web sites to learn about the different processes involved in the rock cycle. Site 1: [|USGS: Rocks]  q Learn about the different types of rocks.  q Click on the links at the bottom of each page to find information on sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Note the rock-classification chart that summarizes the characteristics of each rock type.  q Answer questions 1-4 on the Respond sheet. Site 2: [|The Rock Cycle]  q Find information about the different processes in the rock cycle that enable one type of rock to change into another type of rock.  q Answer questions 5 and 6. == Respond: Open the document below. Save it in your WD folder. Please add your name to the file name. Ex: "Does That Rock Have a Future - Jill Darrough" Complete the document by identifiy types of rocks, drawing the rock cycle, and describing the different processes involved. For homework, address the Focus Question by writing a story that chronicles the life of a rock as it progresses through the rock cycle. ALL responses need to be in RED. You will need to e-mail your completed document to Jill.Darrough@craven.k12.nc.us with the Subject line as "Future". ==