53
Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Compare different rocks and group them
Realize we rocks based on their properties
Know that:
- The rock is the solid part of the Earth's crust.
- Different rocks show different properties.
- The causes of weathering.Soils are formed from rocks.
- Types, Characteristics and properties of different soil.
Unit 5E.1: Rocks and How We Use Them
Looking at rocks
Using rocks
Weathering
Soil
Science skills:
Observing
Classifying
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Looking at Rocks
What do we walk on? Live in? Climb sometimes?
Sit on sometimes?
Rocks!
Looking at Rocks
Are all rocks the same? Are the rocks shown here the same?
Can you describe how they are different?
Classifying rocks:
Getting ready:
In this activity you will observe and classify Rocks according to
their properties.
5.11.1
55
Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Materials you need:
- 5 different rock samples
labelled 1 to 5
- Hand lens
- Dropper, Vinegar
- Safety goggles
- Paper plate
- Paper towels, Beaker
- Water, Glass plate
Procedure:
1. Make a chart like the one
shown at the end.
2. What colour or colours in
each rock?
3. Can you see any grains?
Are the grains very small or large? Record your
observation under texture in your chart.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
4. Rub each rock against other rocks
and find out whether it easily marks
other rocks or a concrete floor.
The softer rocks leave marks on
the harder ones! Write if it leaves
a mark under ‘rubbing’
5. Using a hand lens, observe how many
pores (small empty holes) you can
see in the rock. Test by putting a
few drops of water on it. If it
allows water to go through it is
porous. This is what we call
porosity.
6. Caution: wear your safety goggles.
Use the dropper to add a few drops
of vinegar on each rock.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Record your observation:
Rock
sample
1 2 3 4 5
Colour
Texture
Rubbing
Porosity
Bubbles
when
vinegar
added
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Where are rocks found? Look at the following pictures and
discuss where the rocks can be found? Also think about why
can we see some rocks and not others:
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Rocks lie beneath all surfaces of the Earth:
Why do you think these rocks are so smooth?
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Using Rocks
Uses of rocks depend on their properties.
Try and complete as much of the table below as possible, your
teacher will help once you have tried yourself.
Here is a clue to start you off...
5.11.2
How is this rock
being used? Discuss
with your partner?
How did they make?
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Uses of rocks I
have seen – draw a
picture if you like!
What is the name
of the Rock used
Why is this rock
used?
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Rocks are traditionally used as building materials. Look at this
house! It is made from natural rocks! People used to make such
homes before. We now have the machinery to use rocks as we
need –make cement, bricks etc
Look at the house below quite clever what do you think?
Now, we use different rocks for different jobs depending on
their properties..
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Examples:
Limestone and sandstone are used as building blocks
Slate is used for roofing tiles.
Granite and marble are much harder than limestone and
sandstone. They are used for statues and headstones.
WRITE THE TYPE OF ROCK UNDERNEATH!
64
Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Research..
Find out about the following famous places, make posters and
try and find different pictures to add to your poster, include
information: How the different rocks are used? When it was
built? What types of rocks etc.
Clues: Egypt, (Aztec) Mexico, Yemen, Petra (Jordan)
65
Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Clay is used to make an important building material caked
Cement.
To learn more about the rocks and their uses, Study this
table:
Name of rock
Properties
Uses
Limestone
Hard and
coloured
Building blocks
Quartz
Attractive
colours
Jewellery
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Slate
Water
proof
Roofs and buildings
Granite
Hard
Steps, floors
Marble
Attractive
and can be
polished
Steps floors
Chalk
Breaks
easily
Writing
Soapstone
Soft and
may feel
soapy when
touched
Inlaid designs,
statue, kitchen and
for traditional
carvings.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Key words:
Stone Age Lime stone Quartz
Slate Granite Marble
Chalk Soapstone
Do you know?
The most rocks in Qatar are sedimentary, so they have
many pores (high porosity) which make them good containers
for petrol and natural gas.
Key Idea:
Rocks have different uses depending on their properties
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Key questions:
Fill these spaces using the following words:
a) Steps
b) Roofs
c) Writing
d) Statues
Explain the following observations:
a. Limestone and sandstone are good building
materials because...
__________________________________________
b. Slate is good for roofing because..
__________________________________________
c. Granite chips are good for road making because..
d. Stone carvers like using soapstone for their work.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
69
Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Soil: Where does soil come from?
Let’s first ask where did the sand come from?
This is in Zikreet! The picture gives you a clue!
Weathering
The surface of the Earth is always changing – like in Zikreet.
This may come as a surprise, as the rocks and hills look the
same for years! This is because the process of changes happens
very slowly. The rocks slowly break into smaller pieces – we call
it weathering.
Weathering: is the breaking down of rocks into smaller
and smaller pieces.
5.11.3
You can make your own sand! Place a piece of white paper and rub the rock with your fingers!
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Causes of weathering:
1. Frost action:
Most things contract when they freeze but not water. Water
expands when it freezes into ice. Rain water seeps into tiny
cracks in rocks. When the water freezes it expands. The ice
presses against the sides of the cracks. The pressure is great.
It can make cracks bigger .
Activity:
In this activity you are going to see how water changes volume
when it freezes, and how rocks can be broken due to this.
Completely fill a small
glass jar (an old jam jar)
with water and screw on
the lid. Now place it in a
clear plastic bag, tie the
bag at the top and put it
into the freezer. Leave it
for 12 hours!. Do NOT
remove it from the plastic
bag.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Describe and explain what happened!
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Label this diagram and explain to your partner what is
happening! What do the arrows mean?
Temperature changes:
In most places it is warmer during the day than at night. Heat
expands rocks during the day. At night the rocks cool off and
contract. The expanding and contracting happen over and over
again. That strains the rocks. The strain makes them crack, a
tiny bit at a time.
Heat makes most things expand-get bigger.
Cold makes most things contract-get smaller.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Animal activity:
Animals do not break rocks a part by themselves. But some
animals dig into the ground. Ants, worms, rodents etc. dig
holes. The holes let in air and water. The air and water
weather the rocks, breaking them into smaller pieces.
4. Wind:
Wind is sometimes strong enough to break particles of sand
from a rock. The sand may be carried by the wind. If the sand
hits another rock it will break even more particles, causing the
rock to wear away.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
5. Water:
a. When rain hits the rocks it breaks it into small pieces, you
see the lines the water has made as it moves..
• b. Around the world, moving water picks up and transports
millions of tonnes of sediment every day, along rivers,
coasts, and even in the deep oceans.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Key words:
Weathering
Frost
Expand
Contract
Do you know?
The Mississippi river carries over 500 million tonnes of
sediment to the sea each year!!
Grains are worn smooth as the water carries them
along. That’s why beach sand is smoother than river
sand.
Project:
Make a poster for the causes of weathering showing
pictures for each cause. Include, CLEAR TITLE, explain the
different types of weathering using pictures and diagrams!
Make it look nice, use big writing and don’t forget your
names!!
Key Ideas:
- Weathering is the breaking
down rocks into small pieces.
- Temperature, frost, animals,
wind and water, help to
weather rocks.
- Expand: to become bigger
- Contract: to become smaller
- Rocks are a solid part of the
Earth.
- Earth is a rock
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Key questions:
Q1: What does weathering mean?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Q2: List three causes of weathering the rocks:
1. …………………………………………………………
2. …………………………………………………………
3. …………………………………………………………
Q3: Describe how weathering takes place by water.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Q4: Explain why many stones found in streams and in
the sea are smooth.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Soil
Now we know how big rocks get broken into smaller pieces and
how these smaller pieces are moved about by water or wind.
Soil is basically the collection of these small pieces!
Have you ever played in a sandbox? Would you believe that all
that sand was once big rock?
Soil is of different types depending on the areas...
What kind of soil is this? Write the type next to it!
Soil is formed from small pieces of rock
5.11.4
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Soil is produced when rocks are broken down into small pieces
by weathering.
The type of soil depends on
the type of rock from which
it was made.
Soils from different rocks
have different physical
characteristics and
properties.
Investigating soil properties:
1. Examine with hand lens:
Examine different soils under a
magnifying glass look at particle
size, colour, and texture and at
any rotting organic matter.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
2. Particle size:
Activity:
Use a sieve to separate some different soils.
The soils should be dry and you should use the same sieve each
time to keep it a fair test.
My observation:
Soil (1) Soil (2) Soil (3)
particle size
Colour
texture
rotting organic
matter
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
2. Absorption and flow of water:
Activity:
1. Poke holes in the bottoms of three
plastic containers.
2. Put different type of soil in each container.
3. Pour water into the soil
4. Collect for 1 min the water which comes through the
container
Results: .........................................................
Most soils are one of three types:
1. Clay soil
2. Sandy soil
3. Humus soil
Soil Particles through the mesh Amount of water
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Clay holds water. Land with clay soil can be easily flooded.
Water runs quickly through sandy soil, thus plants may not
have enough water.
Humus soil is a dark coloured soil that develops as dead
plants and animals decay, when it can’t decay any further
it is called Humus.
Activity:
What is soil made of?
Put a sample of each soil in a clear
plastic drink bottle so that the bottle is
about half full.
Put water in the bottle until it is about
three-quarters full.
Put the top on and shake the bottle
hard. Then put it down and wait for it
to settle.
Look at how it has settled.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Where are the stones?
----------------------------------------
Where are the big particles of soil?
----------------------------------------
Where is the fine (small pieces) soil?
----------------------------------------
What does the water above the soil look like?
----------------------------------------
Are there any bits that float?
----------------------------------------
If so what are they?
----------------------------------------
Draw a picture of the results and describes the main
layers of the soil in the box.
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Type of soil Sandy Clay Humus
Colour of soil light Dark Little dark
Size Large Small Medium
Texture Rough Smooth Smooth &
rough
Time for water to
pass through
Fast Slow Medium
Drawing the
particles
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
What is ‘good soil’?
Good soil is made through the combination of erosion by rivers
and biological processes that puts humus into the soil.
A good soil has:
1- humus which is important to hold water in the soil.
2- has quite large soil particles, a soil with fine particles
does not drain well.
3- spaces for air, the plant roots and other living things in
the soil need air.
Key words:
Soil
Clay
Loam
Sandy
Do you know?
Earthworms burrow through the
soil. As they move, they turn over
soil better for farming.
Project:
Go in a trip with your teacher and
try to collect different types of
soil, classify them into
1. Loam soil
2. Clay soil
3. Sandy soil
Key Ideas:
Soil is small
pieces of rock.
Soil is classified
into 3 types:
1. Clay soil
2. Loam soil
3. Sandy soil
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Earth and space
Grade 5, Unit 5E.1:
Rocks and how we use them
Key questions:
Q1: Which type of soil is the best for plants? Why?
------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Q2: Compare between the three types of soil:
Characteristic Sandy soil Loam soil Clay soil
Color
Texture
Explain why water sinks slowly through soils that are made
of fine particles but quickly through sandy soils that are
made of larger particles.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Explain why the valleys of the Nile and the Tigris and
Euphrates are rich agricultural areas and explain the
origins of the sand deserts in the Arabian Peninsula.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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