Your test grades should be up on Engrade by this evening. Please clear out your binders. The only rings in there for tomorrow should be some looseleaf, your ESRT, and your lab checklist.

Happy Halloween! (Pumpkin Pi, get it?)

Today in class, we finished our look at metamorphic rocks and summed up the chapter by examining the rock cycle. Here are a bunch of review resources for you to look at over the weekend before Monday’s test.

Practice Test #2 Answers

ESRT Book Set 2 Answer Keys

• Igneous and Metamorphic Sections
• Minerals
• Rock Cycle and Chemical Composition Table
• Sedimentary

iPad Tutorials

• Sedimentary Rocks
• Igneous Rocks
• Metamorphic Rocks

Review Videos

• Minerals
• Mineral Characteristics
• Using the Minerals Chart
• Igneous Rocks
• Using the Igneous Rocks Chart
• Sedimentary Rocks
• Using the Sedimentary Rocks Chart
• Metamorphic Rocks
• Using the Metamorphic Rocks Chart
• The Rock Cycle

Homework

Study for Monday’s test!

Today in class, we discussed metamorphic rocks. Remember, these rocks form when any rock is exposed to intense heat and/or pressure. The resulting rocks will have been recrystallized as a result. The most obvious clue that a rock is metamorphic is the appearance of banding, which is visible in the rock gneiss.

ESRT Book Set 2 Answer Keys

• Igneous and Metamorphic Sections
• Minerals
• Rock Cycle and Chemical Composition Table
• Sedimentary

iPad Tutorials

• Sedimentary Rocks
• Igneous Rocks
• Metamorphic Rocks

Review Videos

• Minerals
• Mineral Characteristics
• Using the Minerals Chart
• Igneous Rocks
• Using the Igneous Rocks Chart
• Sedimentary Rocks
• Using the Sedimentary Rocks Chart
• Metamorphic Rocks
• Using the Metamorphic Rocks Chart
• The Rock Cycle

Homework

Please complete all of the assigned sections in your ESRT work book. These are due tomorrow. The sections include: Minerals, Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks, and the Rock Cycle. Also, please complete the practice test, I will go over any questions you may have tomorrow in class. The test will be on Monday.

Today in class, we completed our look at sedimentary rocks and began exploring the third and final type of rock, metamorphic. Our chapter test will be administered in class on Monday. Here are some review resources:

iPad Tutorials

• Sedimentary Rocks
• Igneous Rocks
• Metamorphic Rocks

Review Videos

• Minerals
• Mineral Characteristics
• Using the Minerals Chart
• Igneous Rocks
• Using the Igneous Rocks Chart
• Sedimentary Rocks
• Using the Sedimentary Rocks Chart
• Metamorphic Rocks
• Using the Metamorphic Rocks Chart
• The Rock Cycle

Homework

Make sure you have completed the sedimentary rocks outline. Most of you finished it in class, however, if you did not, please complete it using the Sedimentary Rocks LinkViewer presentation. Please complete all of the assigned sections in your ESRT work book. These are due on Friday. The sections include: Minerals, Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks, and the Rock Cycle. The test will be on Monday.

Today in class we continued exploring sedimentary rocks. We completed the digital lab and outline. We will have a rocks and minerals test one week from today.

Homework

Please complete the Engrade quiz entitled “Sedimentary Rocks (Igneous and Minerals as well).” Periods 8 and 9 need to finish up their scripts and images for the Videolicious project, period 8’s is due tomorrow, and period 9’s is due Wednesday.

YOU MUST BRING YOUR ESRT WORKBOOKS TO CLASS TOMORROW!!

Nice job on the quiz today.

Homework

Please continue working on your script and images for your Videolicious project. Here are the script due dates: Period 2: Monday, Period 8: Tuesday, Period 9: Wednesday.

Have a great weekend.

Today in class, we completed the igneous rock identification labs. At this point, you should be comfortable with all of the minerals and igneous rock information and reference tables. Here are the relevant review videos for you to watch.

• Minerals
• Mineral Characteristics
• Using the Minerals Chart
• Igneous Rocks
• Using the Igneous Rocks Chart

Homework

Please review minerals and igneous rocks tonight as we will have a brief quiz tomorrow in class. Also, please continue working on your script and images for your Videolicious project. Here are the script due dates: Period 1: Tomorrow, Period 2: Monday, Period 8: Tuesday, Period 9: Wednesday.

Here is a copy of the link viewer igneous rocks notes.
See you tomorrow.

Today in class, we continued looking at igneous rocks. Please be sure to review your notes including the rocks flowchart we are in the process of putting together. Here are the key ideas you need to know about igneous rocks:

• Form from cooling and solidification of magma or lava
• Intrusive rocks form inside the Earth, cool slowly, and have big crystals
• Extrusive rocks form on the surface, cool quickly, have small or no crystals, and may be vesicular with air bubbles
• Be able to read and interpret the ESRT.

Homework

Please complete the 10--question Engrade quiz entitled “Igneous Rocks” As usual, you may use your notes and ESRT when answering the questions. Corrections from the mapping test are due by the end of the week. Also, please begin working on your script and images for your Videolicious project. Here are the script due dates: Period 1: Friday, Period 2: Monday, Period 3: Tuesday, Period 8: Wednesday.

See you tomorrow.

Today in class, we began exploring rocks, including the different types (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), how they form, and the specifics of igneous rocks. We also discussed the upcoming Rocks Videolicious assignment.

Homework

Please complete the 5-question Engrade quiz entitled “Rocks #1.” As usual, you may use your notes and ESRT when answering the questions. Corrections from the mapping test are due by the end of the week. Also, please begin working on your script and images for your Videolicious project.

See you tomorrow.

Today in class, we will construct models of mineral crystal shapes. Remember, all minerals are composed of crystals, however, they are generally to small to see. The longer a mineral takes to form, the larger the crystals will grow. The crystal shape is entirely the result of the mineral’s internal arrangement of atoms.

Homework

Please complete the 5-question Engrade quiz entitled “Minerals #2.” As usual, you may use your notes and ESRT when answering the questions. Corrections from the mapping test are due by the end of the week.

Here are the answers to last night’s Engrade quiz.
See you tomorrow.

Today in class, we will build our Videolicious mineral documentaries.

Homework

Please complete the 10-question Engrade quiz entitled “Minerals.” Of course, you may use your notes and ESRT when answering the questions.

Enjoy your weekend.

Today in class, we will continue working on mineral identification. We will complete the lab, review the ID assignment from last night, and begin the process of creating our minerals documentaries.

Homework

Please complete your Videolicious script so that we can build our documentaries tomorrow in class. There will be a minerals quiz online over the weekend.

Have a great day.

Today in class, we will try to identify a selection of common minerals using the characteristics we discussed in class yesterday. Please download this Keynote file which will act as your lab packet for today. Be aware that I have posted a quick minerals tutorial to help you review this content. We will likely have a little quiz in class on Friday.

Homework

For homework tonight, please complete the online mineral identification activity. You will scroll through 21 images of minerals from the reference tables. Each image will have several clues that will help you to identify the minerals. Please record the name of each mineral as you go. At the end of the activity, you will be asked to submit your answers through a form. If for some reason it does not work, please bring a written list of your answers to class tomorrow. When you are ready to begin, click here. As always, feel free to email me with any questions or problems.

See you tomorrow.

Today in class, we will begin exploring rocks and minerals. In class, we will be viewing the presentation found here. Here is a review video which you should watch to go over the major concepts from class.
Here are the major concepts we discussed in class:

What is a mineral?
To be considered a mineral, the substance in question must meet the following criteria:

• Naturally occurring
• Solid
• Inorganic
• Definite chemical composition
• Definite crystalline structure

How do we identify minerals?

• COLOR- Most visible characteristic, but unreliable because many minerals share the same color and many minerals exist in different colors.
• STREAK- The color of the mineral in powdered form (use a “streak plate”). Very reliable tool for identifying samples. Note: the color of the powdered form is often different form the color of the solid form.
• FRACTURE/ CLEAVAGE- Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to split along one or more smooth, flat surfaces. If a mineral does not display cleavage, it is said to have fracture, which means it breaks unevenly.
• HARDNESS- The mineral’s resistance to being scratched. Minerals are compared to the ten minerals on the “Moh’s Scale of Hardness”. Minerals are often compared to glass (hardness: 5.5)
• LUSTER- Either metallic (shiny, like a polished metal) or nonmetallic (dull, with no shine). Types of nonmetallic luster include glossy, pearly, greasy, earthy, etc.
• OTHER CHARACTERISTICS that can be tested include: magnetism, reaction with chemicals, taste, specific gravity, crystal form, fluorescence, optics.

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure. All physical characteristics are a result of the mineral’s internal arrangement of atoms.

Homework

For homework tonight, please review the minerals packet I distribute in class. Complete page 2 for tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.