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- Title
Rock On! Creative Ways to Introduce Elementary School Students to the Rock Cycle using Starbursts.
- Authors
Barakat, Rita; Crittenden, Angelina; Kast, Dieuwertje
- Abstract
The Rock Cycle describes the processes by which the three primary classifications of rock (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic) are naturally formed over long periods of time (typically over the course of decades or even centuries). For various reasons, this cycle presents a unique teaching challenge in the context of elementary school education, and in Kindergarten through twelfth grade education more broadly. Some of the reasons for this challenge include (but are not limited to) the prolonged temporal period over which the cycle takes place, as well as the hazards associated with these geological formations. For example, igneous rocks are formed through the cooling of magma after a volcanic eruption, something that is understandably difficult to demonstrate in a controlled, classroom setting. Therefore, by allowing students to create models of these three types of rocks using a kidfriendly material such as Starburst candies, as well as simulate the process by which each of these rocks are formed, students can gain a better understanding of the Rock Cycle by engaging their senses and having autonomy in the learning process. In addition, providing students with tangible references to real-life examples of each of the rock classifications (through FOSS kits and magnifying hand lenses to observe each sample up close) encourages students to make connections between the simulated process (their Starburst rock models) and the actual end products of this complex geological cycle. This lesson, Starburst Rock Cycle, was adapted from Edible Rock Cycle for Kids (Abraham, 2020).
- Publication
Earth Scientist, 2021, Vol 36, Issue 2, p6
- ISSN
1045-4772
- Publication type
Article