Our Level 1 Sedimentary Rocks textbook includes information about sedimentary rock formation in each of the 12 lessons. These are some of the lesson titles included in the book: Clastic Rocks, Sandstone, Organic Rocks, Limestone, Coal,and Chemical Rocks. Each lesson contains 2-3 pages of written material, a quiz and a kids science activity.
The textbooks are designed for upper elementary school students. Each textbook can be completed in one month by students who finish three lessons per week. A semester of Earth Science credit can be earned by students completing one of the Level 1 courses. Students wishing to earn a year of Earth Science credit should complete both Level 1 courses.
Video Lessons
Myrna Martin introduces each lesson in the textbook on a video that can be purchased with our complete kits, packages and courses. Myrna covers not only the main points in the lesson she also includes extra information on the topic that is not contained in the written material.
Elementary Science Activities
The elementary science activities are fun and easy to do in this textbook. They also increase a student's understanding of the information taught in the lesson. Examples of the activities include: Making Clasts, Pudding Stones, Testing for Calcite, Cave in a Cup, Acid Rain and Salt on a Stick. Each of these activities are designed to be created by students with materials commonly found around the home or in their neighborhood.
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Student Edition eBook link Teacher Edition eBook link |
Teacher’s Edition Textbooks
The teacher’s textbook is an exact copy of the student textbook. It includes the answers to the quizzes on each quiz page. A Teacher’s Notes page is located before each lesson with the following information
1. Lesson Content
2. Lesson Objectives
3. Activity information and materials needed
4. Vocabulary and definitions
5. Correlation with the National Science Standards
Sedimentary rock formation occurs all over the Earth's surface. Sedimentary rocks cover approximately 75% of the Earth’s surface. They form all over our planet including deep ocean basins where silt carried into the ocean collects offshore after major rainstorms. The Mississippi River’s delta is a large area where silt, clay and sand have formed deep layers that will eventually lithify into solid rock. Although 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered with sedimentary rocks only about 10% of the crust is sedimentary rock.
Three Major Types of Sedimentary Rocks
There are three major types of sedimentary rock formation. Clastic rocks form when older rocks break apart due to freezing and thawing of water. The bits and pieces of rock are cemented together forming new rocks. Organic rocks are produced by plants and animals. Coral reefs and coal are examples of organic rocks. Chemical rocks form when inland lakes or shallow seas become supersaturated. The chemicals in the water form minerals that collect on lake bottoms and shallow seas. Borax and salt are examples of chemical rocks. Each of these types of rocks can create a fascinating sedimentary rock formation.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
Shale, sandstone, siltstone and claystone are all examples of sedimentary rock formations that formed from broken bits and pieces of older rocks. Water seeping into crevices breaks pieces off older rocks as the water freezes and thaws. Fault lines often contain breccia, where the two sides of the fault line scrape together breaking off chunks of rock. Breccia rocks form when sharp rock particles are cemented together by minerals that crystallize between the rock grains.
Fascinating Facts About Sedimentary Rock Formation
Digging a tunnel in Germany for a new high speed railroad between Berlin and Munich engineers discovered the Blessberg Cave in 2008. It is a huge limestone cavern with cave noodles hanging like thin threads from the ceiling. Areas where the cave noodles hang in bunches they resemble harp strings hanging from the ceiling.
Spelunkers hurriedly started mapping the grotto before it was sealed. They made 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) of the cave before it was sealed with concrete. T
There is no known opening to the cavern because engineers were afraid the ICE tunnel might have a catastrophic failure if the opening to the cavern was not sealed with concrete in 2009. People in nearby towns would like to find another entrance to the cave so they could turn it into a tourist attraction.
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All of our science materials have been used by homeschooling families throughout the United States since 1998.
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