I want to share today some pictures I received some days ago. A lovely cactus by David Me. and a cute kitten by Hugo R.
We have to continue with our rocks and minerals, but first let's see if you can identify the next rock (a lovely photo sent by Daniela). Igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic?
Some days ago we talked about minerals and rocks. These are some of the things we learned:
- Minerals are solid, natural and inorganic substances.
- Rocks are formed from minerals.
- There are three big groups of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
1. To go over those contents, try the next exercise
a) This type of rock comes from lava____________________
b) Sometimes these rocks contain fossils_________________
c) These rocks change with extreme heat and pressure_____
d) Granite belongs to this group________________________
e) Clay belongs to this type of rocks_____________________
f) This is the external layer of our planet________________
g) A change in rocks produced by heat and pressure_______
2. Use your book to tell me where the different types of rocks can be found. Label the picture.
3. Do you know the difference between lava and magma? Is it the same?
I'd like to introduce the new section: properties of minerals (PB 62). When we talk about the properties of minerals we are describing them. We talk about their colour, shape and hardness. Have a look at the next word map. Next week we will do some activities about it.
Hardness is one the properties: how hard a mineral is. In the next video you can see ten examples of minerals on the Mohs Scale, from the softest (talc) to the hardest (diamond).
Are you ready to do a bit of Social Science? Today we are going to start a very hard unit because it is a unit about rocks....Don't you see? Rocks...very hard! Ok, bad joke!
Before we start, I need you to remember that rocks and minerals are inorganic substances (inorgánico, sin vida, inerte) that are made of chemical components (elementos químicos, sustancias que se encuentran en la naturaleza). They are natural things. Plants are natural things too, but they are not minerals. Héctor is a natural thing too, but he is not a mineral. MINERALS are NATURAL and INORGANIC (no life). PLANTS are NATURAL and ORGANIC (life). HÉCTOR is NATURAL and ORGANIC (life). Thank you, Héctor, for your help.
In this unit we are going to learn the differences between minerals and rocks. Have a look at our first word map (PB 60): It shows some important aspects: - Minerals are inorganic, solid, natural substances. - Rocks are formed from minerals. - There are three types of rocks.
And the second word map explains the three types of rocks (PB 60-61):
The next video explains those three types of rocks in a very easy way.
After reading the information and watching the video, let's do the next activities: 1. Read the definition of minerals again (PB 60 or my word map) and say why these three elements are not minerals: PLASTIC, WATER, BONE. 2. TRUE or FALSE?
a) Minerals are formed by rocks________________________ b) Minerals are living things____________________________ c) Some rocks can have fossils__________________________ d) Igneous rocks come from volcanoes___________________ e) Metamorphic rocks have fragments of living things______ f) Heat and pressure can change rocks___________________ g) Granite and basalt are sedimentary rocks______________ h) Basalt is solidified lava_____________________________ 3. Let's finish with the next AB exercises.
Si os apetece, en el siguiente enlace tenéis un juego-paseo por el pueblo de Cercedilla, donde está nuestro albergue del año pasado. Yo lo he hecho y he aprendido muchas cosas que no sabía de ese pueblo. ¡Merece la pena! CERCEDILLA
Hi, kids! Have a look at the next video about the three types of rocks we are studying (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic).
If there is something you don't understand, please ask me... And if you find some more videos about rocks or minerals, I'd love to see them :) See you tomorrow! Ramón C.
