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Starburst Rock Cycle Lab

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10 views20 pages

Starburst Rock Cycle Lab

Uploaded by

bolastudio1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STARBURST LAB

YEAR 8 EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE

How can Starbursts be


used in Science?
Have you tried to make….
…that will have to wait because

We are using
Starbursts to learn
about the rock cycle!
Starbursts can be used to
learn about the rock
cycle!

Lesson objectives

 Explore the rock cycle using Starburst candy

 Identify the various types of rock that exist on Earth

 Describe how each type of rock is formed


Introduction

 The rocks that


make up the Earth
are constantly
being recycled.

 One form of rock


is often changed
into another form
of rock through
certain processes
of nature that
occur over time.
Materials

Each pair/group will require:

 3 Starburst candies (different colours)

 Scissors

 Aluminium foil or small foil pie plate

 Hot plate

 Ziploc bag

 Bench mat

 Something to apply pressure e.g. books

 Worksheet + device for PowerPoint access


Step 1

 Cut each individual Starburst candy into pieces, or “sediment”.

 By breaking down these pieces of Starburst, you are mimicking the


process of breaking down rocks through contact with the Earth’s
atmosphere, water, or organisms.

 What is this process called? Write it down next to wherever you see
a number ‘1’.
Step 2

 Take all the pieces of sediment you have created and mix them up into
a pile.

 Draw what you observe in your ‘sediments’ box on the rock cycle
diagram.

 By moving all the pieces into a pile and transporting them, you are
mimicking the action of surface processes, which includes the flow of
water or wind, that removes rock from one location on Earth to another
location.

 What is this process called? Write it down next to wherever you see a
number ‘2’.
Step 3

 Put all the pieces of sediment in your hand and press them together
so they all from one big piece.

 Set this piece down and draw what you observe in the ‘sedimentary
rock’ box on the rock cycle diagram.

 By pressing all the pieces together in your hand, what two processes
have been involved in creating this type of rock? Write them down
next to wherever you see a number ‘3’.
Step 4

 Place the Starburst rock into the Ziploc bag. Add heat from your hands to the
Starburst rock through the bag to make it more malleable (capable of being
shaped).

 Take a book or heavier object and apply pressure to the Starburst rock in the bag.

 Take the Starburst rock out of the bag and fold it over. Place it back into the bag
and then continue to apply pressure using the book or other heavy object.

 Draw what you observe in the ‘metamorphic rock’ box on the rock cycle
diagram.

 What two processes have been involved in creating metamorphic rock? Write
them down next to wherever you see a number ‘4’.
Step 5

 Take your piece of aluminium foil and create a small bowl with it.

 Take your Starburst rock out of the ziploc bag and place it inside the
aluminium foil bowl.

 Place the aluminium foil bowl on top of the hot plate and set the
temperature to its highest setting. Make sure the cord is not near the hot
plate!

 Observe the Starburst rock. Draw what you observe in the ‘magma’ box on
your rock cycle diagram.

 What process has been involved in creating the magma? Write it down next
to wherever you see a number ‘5’.
Step 6

 Taking care, remove the aluminium foil bowl from the hot plate and place it
onto a bench mat. Be careful not to spill it!

 Allow time for it to cool and harden.

 Draw what you observe in the ‘Igneous rock’ box on your rock cycle
diagram.

 Remove the Starburst rock from the aluminium foil. You have been
mimicking the process of magma/lava cooling and forming solid rock.

 What process has been involved in creating the igneous rock? Write it
down next to wherever you see a number ‘6’.
Rock cycle processes
 You have demonstrated the following rock cycle processes through this
experiment:

 Weathering

 Erosion and deposition

 Compaction and cementation

 Heat and pressure

 Melting

 Cooling and crystallisation


Rock cycle (check your answers)

After you check your


answers, you and your
other group members
will need to tidy up.

Then sit back down at


your desk and try
questions 1-6 on the
slides that follow 
Question 1

 With this new Starburst rock you have created, there are three
possible processes that it could follow. List them.
Question 2

 How could you turn the sedimentary rock into igneous rock without
going through the metamorphic stage?
Question 3

 What type of rock do you think forms from erupting volcanoes?


Question 4

 Which type of rock is formed from broken-down pieces of rock?


Question 5

 How can this activity be described as a cycle?


Question 6

 Besides using Starbursts to represent minerals, how is this model of


the rock cycle different than the real rock in nature?

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