Rocks are Universal

AUDIENCE
Grades 4-6 

STANDARDS SUPPORTED
NCCRS-Science: SC.4.13.4; SC.6.13.5.A
NGSS: ESS1B; ESS1C

PROGRAM DURATION
45 minutes

DESCRIPTION
When is a rock an Earth rock and when is it a space rock? What makes them alike and what makes them different? We’ll explore these questions and whole lot more as we investigate actual meteorites, “create” asteroids, and learn about the materials of Earth and their origins.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
This live interactive program is held in our museum rock gallery and utilizes a variety of Earth rocks and meteorite specimens loaned to us by the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. We engage your students with an active wonder and inquiry process. We will use our bodies to create asteroids, as well as pencil and paper to create widmenstatten patterns. Plus, your students will know how to say widmenstatten by the end of the program!  And as always, we leave plenty of time for questions. 

PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will:

• examine direct evidence of materials within space and Earth rocks
• anaylze patterns to communicate differences between rock formations
• use geologic processes to interpret Earth and space systems