Rock Types on Other Planets Lecture Tutorial

Jessica J. Smay, San Jose City College

Karen M. Kortz, Community College of Rhode Island

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.

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Scientific Accuracy
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This page first made public: Feb 17, 2009

This material is replicated on a number of sites as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service Project

Summary

Students work in pairs to complete this short worksheet strengthening their background knowledge of rock formation. After a brief set of questions about the rock types, students are given the geologic conditions found on different planets. Students must then predict the presence of the three different rock types on each planet.

Lunar and Planetary Science | College Introductory, College Lower (13-14)

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Learning Goals

Students will be able to predict the rock types that would be found on each planet, given the geologic conditions of that planet. Additional goals include the higher-order thinking skill of critical thinking and the skill of working in groups.

Context for Use

This activity can be used in an introductory physical geology course, an astronomy course, or a planetary geology course of any size with no special equipment necessary. Students should have a very basic understanding of the three different rock types. Students in groups complete this 10-15 minute Lecture Tutorial worksheet after a short lecture on the topic during class. Lecture Tutorials are most effective when used frequently in a course. Read more about how to use Lecture Tutorials

Description and Teaching Materials

Rock Types on Other Planets Lecture Tutorial worksheet (Acrobat (PDF) 20kB Jan13 09)

Teaching Notes and Tips

For full discussion of how to use Lecture Tutorials, please check the Lecture Tutorials Main Page

Assessment

Lecture Tutorial worksheets are designed to help student confront their misconceptions, but generally they are not graded. Selected questions are reviewed and answered by the instructor during class. Rather than grade the Lecture Tutorials, exam questions covering that material can be used as assessment.