Alabama 5th Grade Science Assessment Study Guides

Alabama 5th Grade Science Assessment Study Guides Journey to the Center of the Earth All About Rocks Have you ever picked up a smooth colorful rock and wondered how it got there Rocks are everywhere around us from the mountains we climb to the sand on the beach But have you ever stopped to think about what rocks are made of or how they formed In this journey well explore the fascinating world of rocks What are Rocks Rocks are solid nonliving things made up of minerals Think of minerals like the ingredients in a cake Different combinations of minerals create different types of rocks Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a specific chemical makeup and crystal structure Types of Rocks A Rockin Trio There are three main types of rocks each with its own unique story Igneous Rocks These rocks are born from fire They form when molten rock magma or lava cools and solidifies Intrusive Igneous Rocks Form when magma cools slowly beneath the Earths surface They have large crystals Examples Granite and Gabbro Extrusive Igneous Rocks Form when lava cools quickly on the Earths surface They have small crystals Examples Basalt and Pumice Sedimentary Rocks Think of these rocks as like a time capsule They form when layers of sediment small particles like sand silt or clay are compacted and cemented together over millions of years Clastic Sedimentary Rocks Formed from fragments of other rocks Examples Sandstone Shale and Conglomerate Chemical Sedimentary Rocks Formed when minerals dissolved in water crystallize Examples Limestone and Rock Salt Metamorphic Rocks These rocks have been transformed They form when existing rocks are changed by heat pressure or chemical reactions deep within the Earth 2 Foliated Metamorphic Rocks Have layers or bands Examples Slate Schist and Gneiss Nonfoliated Metamorphic Rocks Dont have layers Examples Marble and Quartzite The Rock Cycle A NeverEnding Story The rock cycle is a continuous process where rocks are constantly changing from one type to another Igneous rocks Can weather and erode into sediment forming sedimentary rocks They can also be buried deep within the Earth and transformed by heat and pressure into metamorphic rocks Sedimentary rocks Can be buried deep within the Earth and transformed by heat and pressure into metamorphic rocks They can also melt and become magma which will cool and solidify to form igneous rocks Metamorphic rocks Can be exposed at the surface and weathered and eroded into sediment forming sedimentary rocks They can also melt and become magma which will cool and solidify to form igneous rocks Rocks More Than Meets the Eye Rocks provide us with valuable resources Metals like iron aluminum and copper are extracted from rocks Building materials like granite and marble are also quarried from rocks Rocks tell stories about Earths history Fossils found in sedimentary rocks provide evidence of ancient life Igneous rocks can tell us about volcanic activity and metamorphic rocks reveal information about the intense pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth Rocks are an important part of our environment They help shape our landscapes and provide habitats for many different plants and animals Whats Next So next time you see a rock remember that its not just a boring old stone Its a fascinating piece of Earths history with a story to tell Get out there and explore Examine rocks in your backyard at the park or on a hike Look for different colors shapes and textures You might even find a fossil And dont forget to use a hand lens to get a closer look