SCIENCE ROCKS!

Hello everyone,

Over the last two weeks, with a snow day, a 2-hour delay, and days off, we have still accomplished a lot! We finished up focusing on topics to support where we are now (heat transfer, states of matter, phase changes, and the water cycle).

WHERE WE ARE:

We are currently studying different types of rocks. We are not focused on identification but on the formation of the three types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic) and the processes involved in creating them. We have done some hands-on activities related to the formation of sedimentary rocks and the process of weathering and erosion. Rocks are honestly so cool and one of my favorite topics!

BELOW: Some images from those activities described above.

WHERE WE ARE GOING:

We are going deeper into igneous and metamorphic rocks in the next few days. Do a fun activity at the start of next week related to rocks, and then we will have a quiz on rocks next Wednesday (2/7). After that, we will look at the Geologic Time Scale and put our knowledge of rocks to the test. We'll look at the relative and absolute dating of rocks and how scientists use rocks to understand Earth's History.

After we finish with the Geologic Time Scale, we'll explore how the Earth is structured, including continental drift, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other mass movements. That will wrap up our Earth Materials & Systems unit! Then we'll be on our way to our Weather & Climate unit!

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me (curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org) and follow Science With Silverwood on Instagram (@sciencewithsilverwood).

Thank you,

Mr. Silverwood