Rocks and Minerals by UTH Rocks and Minerals by UTH    

Lesson 28: The Rock Cycle

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

The rock cycle captures the repeating process of the continual formation, transformation, and destruction of rocks.

Vocabulary

Rock Cycle: A repeating process of the continual formation, transformation, and destruction of rocks.
Mantle: The layer between the Earth's core and crust.

Rock or Mineral of the Week

Overview

• Coal is a black sedimentary rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
• The first step of coal formation is when plant matter decays and forms peat.
• If the peat is buried deeply and subjected to millions of years of heat and pressure, coal may form.
• Four types of coal exist, classified based on their hardness: peat, lignite, bituminous, and anthracite.
• Coal is made of carbon with small amounts of other elements such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and sulfur (S).

Physical Characteristics

• Color: Black
• Hardness: 1-3, depending on the type of coal
• Luster: Dull, Vitreous, or Submetallic
• Cleavage: None
• Streak: Black

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

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

Activity 2: Can You Find It?

Find the following elements on the periodic table:

• Carbon (C)
• Nitrogen (N)
• Oxygen (O)
• Sulfur (S)
• Hydrogen (H)
• In which group and period is carbon (C)?

Activity 3: 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 4: 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 coal.

1 / 4

Answer 1

Coal is a black sedimentary rock burned as fuel.

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 coal an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock?

3 / 4

Answer 3

Coal is a sedimentary rock.

3 / 4

Question 4

Which rock group includes those that are formed by deposition, precipitation, and biological activity?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The sedimentary rock group includes those that are formed by deposition, precipitation, and biological activity.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Describe something about coal. Coal is a black sedimentary rock burned as fuel.
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 coal an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock? Coal is a sedimentary rock.
4. Which rock group includes those that are formed by deposition, precipitation, and biological activity? The sedimentary rock group includes those that are formed by deposition, precipitation, and biological activity.

References

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

'Rock cycle.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_cycle. n.p.

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