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E. Earth and Space Systems · Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes

Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes: Unit Review

A1.1 A1.2 A1.4 A1.5 A2.1 A3.1 A3.2 A3.3 E1.1 E1.2 E2.1 E2.2 E2.3 E2.4 E2.5 E2.6About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can explain the difference between rocks and minerals and use tests to identify minerals.
  • I can explain how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form, describe them, and trace the rock cycle.
  • I can explain how fossils form and what they tell us.
  • I can analyse how geological processes and the use of rocks and minerals affect people and the environment, and describe First Nations, Métis and Inuit knowledges of rocks and minerals.

Words to know

mineral
A natural, non-living solid that is the same all the way through.
rock
A natural solid made of one or more minerals.
igneous rock
Rock formed when magma or lava cools and hardens.
sedimentary rock
Rock formed from layers of sediment that are compacted and cemented.
metamorphic rock
Rock changed by heat and pressure without melting.
rock cycle
The very slow, never-ending way rocks change from one type to another.
fossil
The preserved remains or traces of a living thing from long ago.
weathering and erosion
Weathering breaks rock into pieces; erosion moves the pieces away.

Let's review!

In this unit you became a rock detective. You learned the difference between rocks and minerals and tested minerals for streak and hardness. You found out how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form and how they travel around the rock cycle. You read clues in fossils, saw how weathering, erosion, glaciers and earthquakes shape Ontario, found rocks and minerals all around your home, learned how First Nations, Métis and Inuit knowledges guide the choice of rocks and minerals, and assessed the impacts of mining and recycling.

This review has a few questions from every lesson. Try each one, then press Show answer to check. If a part feels tricky, go back to that lesson.

IGNEOUShow: magma or lava coolsclues: crystals, glass or holese.g. granite, basaltSEDIMENTARYhow: sediment is pressedclues: layers, grains, fossilse.g. sandstone, shaleMETAMORPHIChow: heat + pressureclues: bands or flat sheetse.g. gneiss, marble
The three rock types at a glance: how each one forms, the clues to look for, and examples.
WEATHERINGbreaks rockEROSIONtakes the piecesDEPOSITIONdrops themNEW ROCKpressed + glued"Weathering breaks; erosion takes."
From big rock to new sedimentary rock: weathering breaks, erosion takes, deposition drops, and compaction and cementation press and glue.

Rocks and Minerals: What's the Difference?

1

Is granite a rock or a mineral? How do you know?

2

Name two things that make something a mineral.

3

Describe the lustre of a shiny metal spoon and of a piece of chalk.

Testing Minerals: Streak, Hardness and More

1

What is a mineral's streak?

2

A mineral is scratched by a steel nail but not by your fingernail. What is its hardness range?

3

How can you tell gold from pyrite?

Igneous Rocks: Made from Melted Rock

1

How does igneous rock form?

2

Why does granite have bigger crystals than basalt?

3

Which igneous rock has many holes and may float?

Sedimentary Rocks: Made in Layers

1

List the five steps that make sedimentary rock.

2

In undisturbed rock layers, which layer is oldest?

3

Why is Niagara Falls moving upstream?

4

Name the sedimentary rock made from sand.

Metamorphic Rocks and Sorting All Three Types

1

What changes rock into metamorphic rock?

2

Match: shale → ?, limestone → ?

3

A white, sparkly rock fizzes in vinegar and has no layers. What is it probably?

4

Name one safety rule for breaking rocks.

The Rock Cycle

1

What process turns sediment into sedimentary rock?

2

Can a metamorphic rock become sediment? How?

3

Code: rock = "igneous". if event == "heat and pressure": rock = "metamorphic". The event is heat and pressure. What is the rock now?

Fossils: Clues to Earth's Past

1

Why are fossils found mostly in sedimentary rock?

2

What is the difference between a mould and a cast?

3

Coral fossils are found in a rock layer. What was the place like when that layer formed?

How Geological Processes Shape Ontario and Affect Us

1

Explain freeze-thaw weathering.

2

What shaped many Ontario lakes and left sand and gravel behind?

3

Give one harmful and one helpful effect of shoreline erosion.

Rocks and Minerals in Everyday Life

1

Name three things at home made with rocks or minerals.

2

Why is slate used for roofs?

3

Name a skilled trade that works with stone or brick.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Knowledges of Rocks and Minerals

1

Why was chert chosen for knives and arrow points?

2

What is a qulliq, and why is soapstone a good material for it?

3

Give one respectful way to learn about Indigenous knowledges of rocks.

From Mine to Recycling Bin: The Impacts of Using Rocks and Minerals

1

Put in order: refining, extracting, manufacturing, exploring.

2

Give one social and one environmental impact of mining.

3

Name two ways to reduce the harm from using minerals.

Just for fun

Why did the rock join the rock cycle?

It wanted a little exercise... spread over a few million years!

How to use this review

  • Do the review over two short sittings if your child gets tired. Each section matches one lesson.
  • Let your child explain answers in their own words. Using science words like magma, cementation, streak and reclamation is part of Grade 4 science.
  • For "name two" and "give an example" questions, any answer that shows the right idea is fine.
  • Note which section had mistakes, then revisit that lesson's activity and practice.
Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which is a mineral?

2.

Hematite looks grey, but its streak is...

3.

Rock that forms when lava cools quickly, with crystals too small to see, is...

4.

Which rock most likely contains fossils?

5.

Heat and pressure change shale into...

6.

In the rock cycle, what turns any rock into magma?

7.

Water freezing and expanding in a crack is...

8.

Why is copper used for electrical wires?

9.

Soapstone was chosen for the Inuit qulliq because it...

10.

Repairing land after mining is called...

For parents and teachers

Use mistakes to choose what to revisit. Each review section matches one lesson.

  • Mixes up rocks and minerals, or describes rocks only as "pretty": revisit Rocks and Minerals: What's the Difference? and redo the rock collection chart.
  • Confuses streak with colour, or reverses the scratch rule: revisit Testing Minerals: Streak, Hardness and More and redo the mineral test station.
  • Mixes up magma and lava, or thinks slow cooling makes small crystals: revisit Igneous Rocks: Made from Melted Rock.
  • Can't order the five steps, or thinks the top layer is oldest: revisit Sedimentary Rocks: Made in Layers and the sandstone activity.
  • Thinks metamorphic rocks melt, or confuses bands with sedimentary layers: revisit Metamorphic Rocks and Sorting All Three Types and the clay squeeze model.
  • Can't connect processes to rock types, or thinks the cycle has one fixed order: revisit The Rock Cycle and play the dice game again.
  • Mixes up mould and cast, or doesn't know why fossils are in sedimentary rock: revisit Fossils: Clues to Earth's Past.
  • Mixes up weathering and erosion, or only sees harmful effects: revisit How Geological Processes Shape Ontario and Affect Us.
  • Names materials but not the property that makes them useful: revisit Rocks and Minerals in Everyday Life and the scavenger hunt.
  • Talks about Indigenous peoples only in the past tense, or can't link materials to properties: revisit First Nations, Métis and Inuit Knowledges of Rocks and Minerals.
  • Sees mining as all good or all bad, or confuses social and environmental impacts: revisit From Mine to Recycling Bin: The Impacts of Using Rocks and Minerals and the cookie mining activity.

A few mistakes are normal. Praise your child's explanations and their use of science words, not only right answers.