Rock Bottom Science

After our production, Rock Bottom, we decided to do Rock Bottom Science.  We used a model to better understand the scientific concepts around the rock cycle and how rocks are made.  There are three kinds of rocks in the Earth's rock cycle:  sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous

First, we mixed jelly beans, golden syrup and cornflour together to make a model of a sedimentary rock.  These kinds of rocks are made of all kinds of different rocks fused together.

In the sedimentary rock model,  you can see the individual jelly beans (rocks) clearly.

We wrapped the sedimentary rock in tin foil and applied pressure (by pushing it down with our hands and feet) and heat (by putting it in a hot oven).  The model turned into metamorphic rock - all the jelly beans were fused together very tightly.

We then applied even more pressure (standing on an oven try pushing down on the metamorphic rock model) and even more heat (leaving it in the oven for a longer time at a higher temperature).  In the igneous rock model, the jelly beans were all melted together and the mixture looked bubbly, just like real igneous rock from a volcanic eruption. 

When we waiting to our rock models to heat up in the oven, we looked carefully at all the rock samples and made sketches.  We grouped the rock samples in different ways, and looks for samples of sedimentary, metaphoric and igneous rocks.

Here is one way we grouped the rocks on the science table - by size.