Lab-Aids: Rock Cycle - An Interactive Exploration Through Geologic Time Kit
The focus of this activity is helping students attain a better understanding of the rock cycle as a series of ongoing geologic processes that constantly reshape the earth around us and beneath our feet. This activity engages the students through an active learning alternative to the traditional passive methods of studying the rock cycle. Students first imagine themselves as bits of earth material moving through eight different earth process stages. After a set period of time, students analyze the unique pattern of their movement between these stages, calculate geologic time and illustrate their pattern by constructing a rock cycle diagram based on their own experiences. This kit is complete for 32 students and is reusable.
Scientific Concepts:
- Explore the rock cycle
- Identifying the processes forming and destroying rocks
- Sharing data to construct a model
- Evaluating a scientific model
Content List:
- 1 Teacher's Guide
- 32 Student Worksheets and Guides
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #1 Magma
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #2 Sediments
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #3 Materials Made by Living Organisms
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #4 Materials in Solution
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #5 Plutonic Igneous Rock
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #6 Volcanic Igneous Rock
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #7 Sedimentary Rock
- 1 Station Card W/Spinner: #8 Metamorphic Rock
Classroom Planning:
- To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period
- Number of students: 32
