echoesof.science · Ages 6–7
Rock detectives
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echoesof.science/school/rocks/ages-6-7/
Read
A rock is hard and solid. It is made of tiny bits called minerals.
There are three kinds of rock: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
Igneous rock is made when very hot, melted rock cools down and goes hard. Granite and basalt are igneous rocks.
Sedimentary rock is made of little pieces of other rocks, like sand and mud, that pile up in seas and lakes and get pressed together. Limestone can even be made from old shells!
Experiment: Rock detectives
- Look at each rock with the magnifying glass. Can you see shiny crystals, small grains like sand, or flat layers?
- Feel each rock. Is it rough or smooth?
- Guess: will a drop of water soak into the rock, or stay on top?
- Put one drop of water on each rock and watch for one minute.
- Which rock drank the water? Which rock kept the drop on top?
| Rock | What I see (crystals, grains, layers) | Does water soak in? (yes / no) |
|---|---|---|
| Rock 1 | ||
| Rock 2 | ||
| Rock 3 | ||
| Rock 4 |
Questions
Draw one of the rocks you looked at. What did you see with the magnifying glass?
🍎Did the water soak into the sandstone or into the granite?
sandstone / granite
Write the names of the three kinds of rock.
Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/rocks/sources/