Mock Rocks

This week we started our first IB Unit:  Where in the World Is… This unit covers both geology and geography.

We began with an experiment called Mock Rocks, where pairs of kids "mined" through their fake rocks to discover shells, smaller rocks, food coloring, sand, and salt. We learned that minerals are the same material all the way through, and that rocks are a combination of minerals.

Here are pictures from our work this week…

Part 1:  Observing the Mock Rock

Part 2:  Mining the Mock Rock and Discovering the Minerals

Part 3:  Discovering the Salt

We learned that rocks are made of different minerals. Rocks can be broken down into smaller ingredients but minerals can't.