Mystery Science Lesson Birth of Rocks

Alessandra recently learned that erosion is the process of rocks breaking down as they move from one location to another. Alessandra decides to make observations of rocks on Monster Mountain. Alessandra takes photos of rocks at the top and at the bottom of Monster Mountain. Some of her photos are shown above. What effects of erosion do you see in Alessandra’s photographs?

• The rocks at the bottom of the mountain have smoother edges compared to the rocks at the top of the mountain

• There are more trees at the bottom of the mountain compared to the top of the mountain.

• The rocks at the bottom of the mountain are darker in color compared to the rocks at the top of the mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

In Alessandra’s town there is another mountain called Mini Mountain. Mini Mountain is right next to Monster Mountain. Alessandra thinks that rocks at the bottom of Mini Mountain will show less evidence of erosion compared to rocks at the bottom of Monster Mountain. What would most likely cause the rocks at the bottom of Mini Mountain to be less eroded than rocks at the bottom of Monster Mountain? Pick the best answer.

• There are more rivers flowing down Monster Mountain compared to Mini Mountain.

• There is more distance for rocks to fall down Monster Mountain compared to Mini Mountain.

• There is more wind blowing across Monster Mountain compared to Mini Mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Monster Mountain is twice as tall as Mini Mountain. Alessandra wonders: “Would rocks halfway down Monster Mountain look the same as rocks at the bottom of Mini Mountain?” What observations or measurements could Alessandra make to answer her question?

• She can compare the rocks.

• She can take pictures of the rocks.

• She can measure the rocks.

• All of the above.

Aiden and Jayla recently learned that weathering (root wedging and ice wedging) breaks down rocks. They think that root wedging and ice wedging have caused the cracks in the sidewalks where they live. Why do sidewalks in New Jersey have so many more cracks than the sidewalks in Florida?

• Only ice wedging is causing the sidewalk cracks in New Jersey. Both root wedging and ice wedging are causing the sidewalk cracks in Florida.

• Only root wedging is causing the sidewalk cracks in New Jersey. Both root wedging and ice wedging are causing the sidewalk cracks in Florida.

• Only root wedging is causing the sidewalk cracks in Florida. Both root wedging and ice wedging are causing the sidewalk cracks in New Jersey.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Jayla and Aiden wonder: “Do the cold New Jersey winters affect how many cracks appear in the sidewalk?” To answer their question, Jayla and Aiden decide to carry out a science investigation. They first need to show that there are more sidewalk cracks in New Jersey compared to sidewalks in Florida. Which of the following could be used as evidence to answer their question?

• They can make observations and count how many sidewalk cracks they notice along 3 streets in their neighborhoods. Then they can compare their observations.

• They can make observations and count the number of houses they notice along 3 streets in their neighborhoods. Then they can compare their observations.

• They can use rulers to take measurements of the mushrooms that they notice along 3 streets in their neighborhoods. Then they can compare their measurements.

Isabella lives in Peru. The arrow on the map shows where Peru is located. Do you think a volcano could pop up where Isabella lives?

• No, I do not think a volcano could pop up where Isabella lives. The pattern of volcanoes on the map shows that it’s not possible for a volcano to pop up in this location.

• No, I do not think a volcano could pop up where Isabella lives. The map shows that there isn’t a volcano where she lives so it could never happen.

• Yes, I think a volcano could pop up where Isabella lives. The pattern of volcanoes shows that it’s possible for a volcano to pop up in this location.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Volcanoes form a pattern around the Pacific Ocean. The pattern is in the shape of a ring or horseshoe.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Earthquakes do not form any kind of pattern.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Volcanoes and earthquakes have similar patterns of where they are located.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Kenji finds some interesting black rocks next to a hill. The hill is very close to where Kenji lives. Kenji shows the rocks to a scientist, who tells him that the rocks are basalt. Basalt is a type of rock that is formed after lava erupts from volcanoes, but there currently aren’t any volcanoes where Kenji lives. Do you think that there used to be a volcano where Kenji lives?

• Yes

• No

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2