Conversation+with+Jack+Sheridan+about+the+Big+Ideas

=What is a a Rock?=

Most Common Rocks:

 * __granite__- most buildings are made of granite, sidewalks are made of granite (it's speckled - you can see the sparkling better when you wash it)
 * You can make smaller particles with granite by shaking it together after it's washed
 * A lot of sand is broken down granite
 * The clear crystal we see is quartz
 * __puddingstone__ - also very common in Boston - but not a great building material... now the buildings that are puddingstone aren't doing so well because the puddingstone wears away and there are leaks

**Where did these rocks come from?**

 * The earth is made from granite
 * Granite and basalt are the two most common earth materials (molten lava that floated to the top...cooled slowly and therefore it has more chrystals)
 * Basalt is found throughout all the oceans... it comes from where plates are expanding (exposed to the surface... cooled quickly)
 * The earth was all molten at one time and it cooled... some rocks are lighter than others... granite would float to the top and basalt would be at the bottom... as things cool and chrystalize and settle and then with rain, wind, and erosion, those rocks get worn down. In the ocean, animals with shells are dying and they are microscopic animals and they form a layer of rocks called limestone. Over billions of years, the layers of rocks form - under heat and pressure of the layers, there are natural glue substances that fuse these things together. Mud is not a rock - because rock needs to be glued together.
 * If you were to dig down you would see rocks, sand, and gravel of all different sizes
 * Brownstones have cut "brick" and they are natural, whereas now bricks are manmade

What are rocks used for?

 * granite are used for highways and sidewalks

Book Suggestion:

 * My Rock

I can explain if I think something is man-made or naturally-occurring.
Bring in cement and watch it harden and dry. Go to Fanueil Hall

Pyramids - made of limestone and at one time covered in marble Bunker Hill Monument - granite that came from local quarries Chalk - used with limestone Dinosaurs: we find bones but we find more footprints than bones brownstone is the type of rock you find footprints in... they were mud at one time and there footprints are in them (200 million years old)

Uses: tools, weapons (arrowheads), jewelry, art, sand art

=Ideas:= Family presentation - students make jewelry we sell at family presentation students make art that we present at family presentation that is made of rock materials students present their museum exhibit of rocks

Science and Social Studies Learning Targets
A rock is a naturally occurring object that is different sizes, shapes, textures.
 * BostonNeighborhoods || Science(rocks,sand,silt) ||
 * I can discuss if a material is made by nature or by people. || I can explain what a rock is. ||
 * I can explain how people use rocks. || I can explain how rocks are used. ||
 * I can explain what soil is made of. || I can explain how rocks break down. ||

Field Trip
Fanueil Hall trip with Jack Sheridan Students get to see building materials The other half of the group would eat lunch