Middle: The Rock Cycle Puzzle
Functional Geography and Geology are studied in the Montessori program at the beginning of the elementary level and continue to be explored for years. Children are introduced to rock studies to understand the chemistry and physical science responsible for geochemical cycles such as the Rock Cycle. At Alison’s Montessori, we developed The Rock Cycle and Parts of a Volcano Puzzles along with extensively informational Nomenclature Cards to support this fundamental field of study. In this post, we would like to share with you more information on the topic and how our materials will compliment your prepared environment.
The Earth’s surface is in constant restructuration, as well as its composition, and it has been this way for millions of years. There are more than 4000 different kind of rocks and minerals, which cycle through the Earth’s crust. Their composition depends on the chemical elements they contain. Some minerals can be made up of one or two elements, while others consist of a mixture of many different minerals. The Earth’s crust contains three different types of rocks that are classified as followed: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.
Materials
- The Rock Cycle Puzzle
- The Rock Cycle Nomenclature Cards 6-9
- Parts of a Volcano Puzzle
- Parts of a Volcano Nomenclature Cards 3-6
- Parts of a Volcano Nomenclature Cards 6-9
Optional: Model of a Volcano for impressionistic experiments
Optional: Collection of igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks
How to Use the Materials
It is important to study the Parts of a Volcano, as volcanoes have been responsible for much of the Earth’s surface structure. Igneous rocks are formed when the melted liquid rocks emerge on the surface of the Earth’s through volcanic eruption. Our puzzle, Parts of a Volcano, illustrates the different parts where such phenomena occur. For instance, the magma chamber is surrounded of metamorphic rocks which melt when in contact with hot magma. They then melt under high temperature and become igneous rocks, which can reach the surface and cool off. Some examples of igneous rocks are basalt and granite.
Once the molten rocks have reached the surface of the Earth through volcanic eruptions, they create layers of lava rocks and ashes, which make up the volcano shape. This is a good time to introduce our puzzle, The Rock Cycle. The Rock Cycle Puzzle with Nomenclature Cards demonstrates and explains each step of the Rock Cycle process. In effect, after the cooling and crystallization process, some of the igneous rocks from volcanic eruptions are either pressured downwards, or sideways. The layers of rocks pressured downwards metamorphose under immense pressure and heat to become metamorphic rocks (examples of metamorphic rocks are marble, schist, gneiss, or quartzite). Other metamorphic rocks can also originate from weathered and eroded rocks. Wind and water break down some pieces of rocks called sediments. These sediments are transported and collected at the bottoms of lakes and oceans. Layers of sediments form sedimentary rocks under the process of compaction, which cement sediments into rocks (examples are limestone or sandstone). Eventually, the sedimentary rocks move upwards or move near hot spots and become metamorphic or ignenous rocks.
The Rock Cycle Puzzle contains wooden labels and arrows that can be used to label parts of the rock cycle, but also to demonstrate the cyclic pattern using the arrows. Children will understand that just like the Water Cycle, the Rock Cycle has been actively shifting and restructuring the Earth’s surface for millions of years.
We recommend that children build a volcano and simulate a volcanic eruption. For classroom use, it would be practical to have on shelf a permanent durable model of a volcano that children could use all year around. In addition to a Volcano model, children would greatly benefit from having access to a collection of rocks contains specimens for each form: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
The Puzzles as well as the Nomenclature Cards should remain on the Science shelf for the year. Children can organize their understanding and practice reading scientific texts using the Nomenclature Cards. The Nomenclature Cards Sets contain a Booklet, as well as a reproducible Booklet with “fill in the blank” and a Blackline Master to copy, color, and label.
We hope you have been inspired by Parts of a Volcano and The Rock Cycle puzzles. You may also want to check out our puzzles: The Water Cycle, The Carbon Cycle, Layers of the Soil, and Layers of the Atmosphere. Nomenclatures Cards are also available for age 3-6 and/or age 6-9.
