Memorial Park - Montevideo Gneiss

Stop #3

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 Lesson Plan Outline

 Post lab, Montevideo Gneiss, Memorial Park 

 OBJECTIVES

The student will learn how metamorphic rocks are formed.

The student will know terms to describe metamorphic rocks.

The student will be able to identify three metamorphic rocks and know what the former rock was.

 ANTICIPATORY SET

When the students come into the room there will be several metamorphic rocks on the tables/desks.  Break the students up into groups of three or four.  Give them five to ten minutes to look at the rocks and write down observations.  Then have a class discussion about what each group observes in their sample.

 INSTRUCTIONAL INPUT

First, explain what metamorphic rocks are and how they are formed.

Metamorphic rocks are rocks of any type that have been altered by pressure, temperature, and chemical activity.  Metamorphism (the process in which metamorphic rocks are formed) occurs within the earth, not at the surface.  Not all rocks that are buried become metamorphosed, remember, it takes a combination of high temperatures and pressure for metamorphic rocks to form.

Second, explain how metamorphic rocks can fit into two categories, foliated and nonfoliated. Foliated metamorphic rocks are those that show parallel orientation of aligned minerals.  The rock appears to have layers or lines in a parallel orientation (show example of foliated rock i.e. gneiss).  Nonfoliated metamorphic rocks are those that do not display a particular orientation (show example of non foliated rock i.e. marble).

 MODELING

Next, show the students five different samples of metamorphic rocks, explain their names, what rocks they were formed from, and qualities of each sample.

Foliated : Gneiss is a foliated rock formed from granite or schist.  Gneiss is foliated granular in alternate bands of light and dark.  Granular means that it has visible crystals.  Schist is also a foliated granular metamorphic rock, although the foliations are not in complete bands.  Schist is formed from a preexisting metamorphic rock called phyllite. Slate is another foliated metamorphic rock formed from shale.  Slate is a microgranular black to gray rock.  Microgranular means that the rock has crystals that are not visible with the naked eye.

 Nonfoliated: Quartzite is a granular, brown, pink, or purple metamorphic rock.  It is formed from sandstone and appears to have a sugary texture.  Marble is another nonfoliated metamorphic rock formed from limestone.  Marble is a granular white to gray rock.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

Have each student pick out one metamorphic rock and try to identify it based on qualities discussed during instructional input.

 GUIDED PRACTICE

Have the students start on a worksheet, walk around the room to check that each student has an understanding of what he/she is doing.         

 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE & EVALUATION

Have the students finish the worksheet and turn it in.   

Terms:

Metamorphic, Foliated, Nonfoliated, Granular, Microgranular, Gneiss, Schist, Slate, Quartzite, and Marble.

References: 

Fritsche, Eugene A.,  2003, “Student Tutorial in Foundations of Earth Science”:  ESCI 300 at California State University Northridge,   http://www.csun.edu/~hcggeo007/300metrx.html.

Monroe, James S., and Wicander, Reed, 2001, Physical Geology Exploring the Earth: Brooks and Cole, 4^th ed, p.190-204.

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