Math rocks! Cavern design teams determine the rankings of rock types based upon desirability points. The points are connected to the properties of the rocks and their usefulness in building a cavern. 

Concepts

igneous rocks, rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks, compare and contrast, properties of rocks, rock properties, types of rocks, technology resources

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Additional Tags

caverns, Engineering, igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary

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Instructional Ideas

• Allow the class to determine intermediate step values for the desirability chart
• Research man made caves in your area and find out the type of rock they were made from and why builders used them

Classroom Considerations

• The class should have completed the activity on classification of rocks, or know about the classification and types of rocks
• The sixth installment in a series of eight

Pros

• The handout includes information about the hardness of a rock and its usefulness in building a cavern
• The lesson provides a suggested extension activity

Cons

• None