Soil,+Rocks+and+Minerals

=Rocks, MInerals and Soils State of Utah 4th Grade curriculum support materials  = =__** Rocks  **__= @http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/rocks_soils_fs.shtml You will become a tester of rocks at this web site. Use the red arrows to select one of the four types of rocks. The rocks to choose from are granite, slate, chalk and pumice. Click on one rock at a time and drag it in the tester. Then you can click on the different levers to test the rock to see if it is permeable, if it floats, if it splits and if it wears well. Take a quiz when you are finished. Click on the speakers to have the instructions and questions read to you.

The Learning Zone: The Rock Cycle @http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/rocks/cycle/index.htm Here is your chance to explore the rock cycle with a tour guide named, Rocky. Colorful illustrations make learning about this process easy. The adventure begins with weathering, and how rocks break down from physical, chemical, and biological processes. When rocks break down, they become smaller pieces and can be transported or moved by four different physical forces. Tour all of the stages of the rock cycle, and you will end up in the uplift stage, where rocks are exposed at the Earth's surface. And the cycle begins again.

Rock and the Rock Cycle http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/rocks_intro.html &edu=elem Did you know that rocks could change in to other rocks? It's all part of something called the "rock cycle". Learn about the three types of rocks on this fun, interactive Web site for kids. Learn about magma, lava, and igneous rocks. Read about sand, sedimentary rocks, and fossils. When you read these articles, be sure to click onto the terms printed in blue bold type to learn even more about rocks and how they are formed.

The Rock Cycle @http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/environment_earth_universe/rock_cycle/revise1.shtml When you pick up a rock, you may never think about the changes that rock has gone through in the many years it has been around. Explore rocks and get to know the different kinds of rocks at this web site. Find out about the three types of weathering and how they change rocks. You will also learn about erosion and transport of rocks. Watch an animation that shows how sedimentary rock forms and learn about metamorphic and igneous rock formation.

The Rock Cycle @http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/environment_earth_universe/rock_cycle/revise1.shtml When you pick up a rock, you may never think about the changes that rock has gone through in the many years it has been around. Explore rocks and get to know the different kinds of rocks at this web site. Find out about the three types of weathering and how they change rocks. You will also learn about erosion and transport of rocks. Watch an animation that shows how sedimentary rock forms and learn about metamorphic and igneous rock formation.

How Sedimentary Rock is Formed @http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/sediment.htm Sedimentary rocks are formed when little pieces of the earth are broken down and worn away by wind and water. Watch a quick animation that shows how sedimentary rocks are formed and then look at five different kinds. See sandstone rock, limestone rock, shale rock, conglomerate rock, and gypsum rock. For each kind of rock, the web site shows a picture and tells how it was formed. Explore this site to learn more about rocks and to become a real rock hound.

=__** Soil: **__= The Apple as Planet Earth /The Importance of Soil Short animation

Scholastic: Dirtmeisters Science Lab- How Does Rain Shape the Earth? Erosion With erosion, or the movement of fluid on a surface. To see erosion in action, try the Science Lab.

What Kind of Soil Do You Have in Your Yard? Sizing It Up

Bureau of Land Management: Soil Biological Communities Underground Adventure @http://www.fieldmuseum.org/undergroundadventure/ Take a look under the ground to find the habitat of many creatures that live in the soil, Imagine you are only one-half inch tall; how would everything look underground? Find grubs, mites, worms, beetles, cicadas, mole crickets, pseudoscorpions, wingless insects like springtails, seeds, mold, fungi, and a network of plant and tree roots. Watch a mother earwig take care of her eggs and babies. See a prairie crayfish dig down through the soil to underground water to get its gills wet.

The Dirt on Soil: What's Really Going on Under the Ground @http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/index.html Did you know that soil is actually a very diverse thing that can consist of many different particles such as clay, gravel, silt, and sand? This lesson by Discovery School is a great place to learn more about soil. The lesson will explain to you what each of these components of soil is and what properties they contribute to the texture and characteristics of soil. You will discover the down and dirty facts about soil, meet organisms found in the soil, and have fun on an adventure called a "soil safari".

Did You Know Astronauts Study Sand in Space? @http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/webtext.cfm?unit=sand You might be surprised to learn that NASA scientists study sand. Building sandcastles may not seem to have anything to do with space exploration, but it does. Find out how on the NASA Kids Science News Network web site. You will discover understanding physics helps geologists and engineers understand why some soils are better than others when built upon. NASA engineers will use this information to better understand soils on the Moon and Mars. Watching the video will help you understand the importance of sand research even better.

Soil Pit: Soil Structure @http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/fieldday/kids/soil_pit/soil_structure.htm Plants need good topsoil to grow. This page from the "Soil Pit" Web site has color photographs and information that explain the importance of good soil structure and some of the conservation measures that can protect the land from the dangers of soil erosion. There are also site links to information about soil color and soil texture and the ways in which you can analyze the physical features of the earth to understand more about the local environment and condition of the land.

NASA Soil Science Education @http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.htmlExtensive information on how much soil there is on earth, the importance of soil, microbes in soil, the nitrogen cycle and much more. Look under horizon properties to see detailed diagrams of the layers of the soil. Discovery School Soil Safari http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/soil/soil_safari.htmlClimb aboard an imaginary ship and get smaller and smaller as you go deep into the earth's soil to search for a toxic chemical spill and a natural way to clean it up.

DiscoverySchool.com: The Dirt On Soil @http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/down_dirty.html This interactive website explores the various soil layers and introduces you to the lifeforms that live in those soil layers.

S.K Worm Answers Your Questions About Soil and Stuff! @http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/squirm/skworm.html Have a question about soil? Check out this site, where the U.S. Department of Agriculture's resident soil expert, S. K. Worm shares his knowledge about dirt! You'll learn how soil is created, how it is affected by weather, how soil helps keep worms cool, the helpful role of plant roots in maintaining soil, some of the ways in which we can help conserve soil, and more.