suggested grade levels: 9-12
view Idaho achievement standards for this lesson
1. Students will be become familiar with some geologic history.
2. Students will learn how to do research.
3. Students will be exposed to the Digital Atlas of Idaho.
Use the Digital Atlas. To get there: Click on Idaho Overview, then on Rocks. Have your students read through the material on rocks and click on the links to look at the diagrams and pictures. Have them use the information to answer the following questions. (Click below to print the handout sample)
These are links to access the handouts and printable materials.
geo15ho.pdf | geo15AK.pdf | Rocks
The sample questions below are shown in the printed handout.
Rocks are consolidated materials made up of grains of one or more minerals. Rocks are grouped into different categories depending on how they are formed. By doing this activity, you will become much more familiar with rocks. Use your knowledge and the digital atlas to answer the following:
1. What are the three basic categories of rocks?
2. How is each one formed?
3. What can the color of a rock tell you about its composition?
4. If shale is a sedimentary rock, how is it made? What material is shale made from?
5. What is the difference between rounding and sorting?
6. What is plutonic rock?
7. What are some characteristics of granite?
8. How does heat help the formation of metamorphic rock?
9. Compare and contrast the two different types of metamorphism.
Geology: Geology Topics