What can we learn about rocks by observing them carefully?
1. Ask the question
Recall some of the earth materials the students investigated last time — e.g., sand, clay, shells, and oil. Let students know that today they will investigate one of the earth materials more closely — rocks.
Invite students to share their experiences with rocks.
How many of you have found an interesting–looking rock somewhere, picked it up, and taken it home?
Introduce the investigation question:
What can we learn about rocks by observing them carefully?
Have students brainstorm some ideas. Maybe they will indicate properties like size, weight, color, texture, temperature, or “sparkliness.”
Let students know that scientists who study rocks closely are called geologists.
Did you know? Rocks can be ancient–hundreds of millions of years old. They are the oldest things we’ll ever touch. But some rocks are being formed right this minute, they are being made by volcanoes, out of lava.
