GEOLOGY
DESCRIPTION:
Students will participate in group work that will facilitate their understanding of geology, the rock
cycle, and rock identification.
PROGRAM TYPE:
Field Trip – Most Metro Parks
COST:
FREE
KEY CONCEPTS:
Geological history/timeline, rock cycle, fossils
GRADE LEVELS:
6-8
PROGRAM LENGTH:
1 hour
BENCHMARKS AND INDICATORS:
Grades 6-8
Earth and Space Sciences
Benchmark D: Identify that the lithosphere contains rocks and minerals and that minerals make up
rocks. Describe how rocks and minerals are formed and/or classified.
Grade Six: Earth Systems
1. Describe the rock cycle and explain that there are sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks that have
distinct properties (eg. color, texture) and are formed in different ways.
2. Explain that rocks are made of one or more minerals.
3. Identify minerals by their characteristic properties.
Benchmark E: Describe the processes that contribute to the continuous changing of Earth’s surface (eg.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, erosion, mountain building).
Grade Eight: Earth Systems
13. Describe how landforms are created through a combination of destructive (eg. weathering and erosion) and
constructive processes (eg. crustal deformation, volcanic eruptions and deposition of sediment).
14. Explain that folding, faulting, and uplifting can rearrange the rock layers so the youngest is not always
found on top.
Scientific Inquiry
Benchmark A: Explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations
and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations and appropriate
tools.
Grade Six: Doing Scientific Inquiry
1. Explain that there are not fixed procedures for guiding scientific investigations; however, the nature of an
investigation determines the procedures needed.
Grade Seven: Doing Scientific Inquiry
3. Formulate and identify questions to guide scientific investigations that connect to science concepts and can
be answered through scientific investigations.