Sunday, April 4, 2010

Marble Memorials: How is Marble Quarried?


Curricular Concept: Classify rocks and minerals. Describe ways we use Earth materials.
Grade levels: 3 and 7
Tools needed:
Earth Materials for Buildings and Memorials Journal Flip Book (Paper), marble pieces finished and natural, limestone, magnifying glass, show photos of marble sculptures from different time periods, furniture, monuments, memorials, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, Arlington National Cemetery, sample pieces of counter tops

The Lincoln Memorial construction took place between 1914 and 1922. Work crews had completed most of the memorial architectural elements by April 1917 when the Unite
d States entered into the First World War, but work slowed as a result. From the chamber of the memorial, one can appreciate the different stones used in its construction. The terrace walls and lower steps comprise granite blocks from Massachusetts - the upper steps, outside façade, and columns contain marble blocks from Colorado - the interior walls and columns are Indiana limestone - the floor is pink Tennessee marble - the ceiling tiles are Alabama marble – and the Lincoln statue comprises 28 pieces of Georgia marble. These building materials may seem random, but Henry Bacon specifically chose each one to tell a very specific story. A country torn apart by war can come together, not only to build something beautiful, but also explain the reunification of the states.

Web Resources: Colorado Yule Marble Mine, Marble, Colorado
Strategy:
  1. Students should view monuments and buildings containing marble.
  2. Describe texture and feel of marble. Look at marble with magnifier.
  3. Describe metamorphic process from limestone to marble
  4. In groups of 2 : Make a flip book of 9 pages that answers: Why is marble important to us? Cover and 7 pages that give a marble factoid on each page.
Questions:
  • What makes marble an essential rock for buildings, statues, memorials, and monuments?
  • Why does someone decide to work in a quarry? Would you want to work in a quarry?
  • Why does an artist sculpt with marble? Who are famous sculptors?
  • What is the economic impact of marble?
  • If you went to Colorado on vacation would you want to visit the Yule Marble Quarry?
  • Will you need sunglasses if it is bright sunny day? (Yes, the marble glistens like giant rocks of fresh snow or sugar.)
  • Where do marbles come from? Where did the saying come from: Have you lost your marbles?
  • Why do they call Earth the Great Blue Marble?
Submitted by Virginia

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