MODULE 5 (MIDTERM)
Lesson Plan: Minerals and Rocks
I. Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Identify and describe the three main categories of rocks (igneous, sedimentary,
metamorphic).
2. Explain the origin and environment of formation of common minerals and rocks.
3. Classify given rock samples or images according to their category.
III. Lesson Proper
A. Introduction (10 minutes)
Ask:
• “Have you ever picked up a rock and wondered where it came from?”
• Show three different rock samples or photos and ask, “Do you think they all formed
the same way?”
Motivation:
• Short video or slideshow showing volcanic eruption, river deposits, and mountain
rocks.
B. Discussion (20 minutes)
1. Three Main Categories of Rocks:
Igneous Rocks
Definition:
Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of molten rock, either
magma (below the Earth's surface) or lava (on the surface). These rocks are the first type of
rock formed in the rock cycle.
Types of Igneous Rocks:
1. Intrusive (Plutonic) – formed beneath the Earth's surface from slowly cooled
magma, which allows large crystals to form.
o Example: Granite – coarse-grained, light-colored
o Example: Diorite – speckled black and white
2. Extrusive (Volcanic) – formed on the Earth's surface from quickly cooled lava,
resulting in small or no crystals.
o Example: Basalt – dark-colored, fine-grained
o Example: Obsidian – glassy texture, black, shiny
o Example: Pumice – light, porous, can float on water
Sedimentary Rocks
Definition:
Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments (tiny
pieces of rocks, minerals, or organic material) that are deposited by water, wind, or ice.
These rocks often form layers and may contain fossils.
How Sedimentary Rocks Form:
1. Weathering – rocks break down into sediments
2. Erosion and Transport – sediments are moved by wind, water, or ice
3. Deposition – sediments settle in layers
4. Compaction and Cementation – sediments are pressed and glued together over time
Types of Sedimentary Rocks:
1. Clastic – made from fragments of other rocks
o Example: Sandstone – from sand grains
o Example: Shale – from mud or clay
2. Chemical – formed when minerals dissolve in water and then crystallize
o Example: Limestone – from calcium in water
o Example: Rock Salt – from evaporated salty water
3. Organic – made from the remains of plants and animals
o Example: Coal – from plant remains
o Example: Chalk – from tiny marine organisms
Metamorphic Rocks
Definition:
Metamorphic rocks are formed when existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or even other
metamorphic rocks) are changed by heat, pressure, or chemical processes deep within the
Earth. These changes occur without melting the rock.
How Metamorphic Rocks Form:
• Heat from the Earth’s interior
• Pressure from overlying rocks or tectonic activity
• Time allows minerals to rearrange and form new structures
Types of Metamorphic Rocks:
1. Foliated – have layers or bands due to pressure
o Example: Slate – formed from shale, smooth and flat
o Example: Schist – shiny, layered, larger crystals
o Example: Gneiss – distinct banding of light and dark minerals
2. Non-Foliated – no visible layers, formed under uniform pressure
o Example: Marble – from limestone, smooth, often used in statues
o Example: Quartzite – from sandstone, hard and glassy
2. Common Minerals:
Definition:
A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition
and a crystalline structure. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks.
Properties of Minerals:
1. Color – what it looks like on the surface
2. Luster – how it reflects light (shiny, dull, glassy, etc.)
3. Hardness – measured by the Mohs scale (1–10)
4. Streak – color of the powder left when rubbed on a plate
5. Cleavage/Fracture – how it breaks (flat vs uneven)
C. Activity: “Rock Detective” (20 minutes)
Instructions:
1. Provide 6 rock samples or images labeled A–F.
2. Students will observe each and fill out a worksheet that includes:
o Rock type (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)
o Possible origin (lava flow, river deposit, etc.)
o Environment of formation
D. Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes)
Ask:
• “What surprised you most about how rocks form?”
• “Why do you think it’s important to study rocks and minerals?”
Assignment (Optional):
• Bring a rock from your surroundings and write a short description of what type you
think it is and why.