Rocks and Minerals by UTH Rocks and Minerals by UTH    

Lesson 26: Erosion of Rocks and Minerals

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

• Read the lesson.
• Review the synopsis.
• Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
• Study the rock and mineral of the week.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Erosion is the result of having been worn away, as by a glacier on rock or the sea on a cliff face. Rocks are continually created, but they are also continually being destroyed by forces such as erosion.

Vocabulary

Erosion: The result of having been worn away or eroded, as by a glacier on rock or the sea on a cliff face.
Glacier: A large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill.
Metamorphic Rock: A rock that consists of pre-existing rock mass in which new minerals or textures are formed at higher temperatures and greater pressures than those present on the Earth's surface.

Rock or Mineral of the Week

Overview

• Gneiss is a common and widely-distributed metamorphic rock having bands or veins.
• As a metamorphic rock, gneiss is formed when various types of other igneous or sedimentary rocks undergo transformation via heat and pressure.

Interesting Facts

• Gneiss is crushed or cut into slabs to use for building and landscaping.

• Given its interesting texture and the ability to polish it to a high shine, gneiss is used for decorative floor tiles, countertops, and even tombstones.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

• After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Take a Nature Walk

• Embark on a nature walk.
• Collect one rock or mineral specimen.
• Use the gathered specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 3: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 6 in 'Fifth Grade Science Rocks and Minerals Notebook Pages.'

Review

Question 1

Describe something about gneiss.

1 / 4

Answer 1

Gneiss is a banded metamorphic rock used as decorative floor tiles, countertops, and even tombstones.

1 / 4

Question 2

What are the three major groups of rock that make up the crust of the Earth?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The three major groups of rock that make up the crust of the Earth are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.

2 / 4

Question 3

Is gneiss an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock?

3 / 4

Answer 3

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock.

3 / 4

Question 4

Which rock group includes rocks or minerals transformed by heat and pressure?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The metamorphic rock group includes rocks or minerals transformed by heat and pressure.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Describe something about gneiss. Gneiss is a banded metamorphic rock used as decorative floor tiles, countertops, and even tombstones.
2. What are the three major groups of rock that make up the crust of the Earth? The three major groups of rock that make up the crust of the Earth are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
3. Is gneiss an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock? Gneiss is a metamorphic rock.
4. Which rock group includes rocks or minerals transformed by heat and pressure? The metamorphic rock group includes rocks or minerals transformed by heat and pressure.

References

'Gneiss.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gneiss. n.p.

'Erosion.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosion. n.p.

Cited Physical Properties. Geology.com. geology.com/rocks. n.p.