| Essential Knowledge and Skills |
Related SOL |
| Students should be able to: |
|
| Distinguish between rocks and minerals, and understand that most rocks are composed of minerals. |
ES.5 a
ES.1 a, b |
| Characterize a mineral as being a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid substance with a definite chemical composition and structure. |
ES.5 a |
| Examine the important physical properties of minerals (color, streak, luster, hardness) and classify minerals. |
ES.5 a |
| Examine and identify important rock-forming minerals, including but not limited to quartz, feldspar, calcite, and mica. |
ES.5 a, b |
| Identify important ore minerals, including but not limited to pyrite, magnetite, hematite, galena, halite, graphite, and sulfur. |
ES.5 a, b |
Describe the change that occurs to each type of rock throughout the rock cycle. Interpret the rock cycle diagram. |
ES.6 a, b, c |
Identify the following types of rocks based on mineral content and texture:
- Igneous rock forms from molten rock that cools and hardens either below or on the Earth’s surface.
- Extrusive igneous rocks have small crystals and a fine-grained texture.
- Intrusive igneous rocks have larger crystals and a coarse-grained texture.
- Extrusive igneous rocks include pumice, obsidian, and basalt.
- Intrusive igneous rocks include granite.
- Sedimentary rocks form from rock fragments or organic matters bound together, or are formed by chemical precipitation.
- Clastic sedimentary rocks are made up of fragments of other rocks and include sandstone, conglomerate, and shale.
- Non-clastic sedimentary rocks include limestone and gypsum.
Metamorphic rocks form by the effects of heat, pressure, or chemical action on other rocks.
- Metamorphic rocks can be foliated or nonfoliated (unfoliated).
Foliated metamorphic rocks, such as slate, schist, and gneiss, whose mineral grains flatten and line up in parallel layers or bands.
- Nonfoliated (unfoliated) metamorphic rocks have few or no layers and include marble and quartzite.
Classify the following rocks as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary: pumice, obsidian, basalt, granite, sandstone, conglomerate, shale, limestone, gypsum, slate, schist, gneiss, marble, and quartzite. |
ES.6 a, b, c |
Identify soil as loose rock fragments and clay derived from weathered rock mixed with organic materials. |
ES.6 a, b |
Sample Classroom Assessment Methods
- Lab practical on local rocks
- Student collected rock and mineral sets
- Student presentations
- Quizzes
- Unit tests
Sample Resources
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