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 United 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

• Marble quarry showing outside and inside
• Marble needed for Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
• YouTube video of the quarry amazing
• Marble Institute of America video from quarry to fabrication to installation in home (counter tops)
  

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

Toilet Tissue Geologic Timeline Rocks!

Curricular concept: Dating techniques and the stratigraphic column have provided us with a history of the Earth. A geological timeline is an abstraction of the stratigraphic column (a mapping of all the world’s known rock units, a theoretical continuous stack). (simplistic) http://www.annalsofgeophysics.net/Stratigraphic_Column.html

Geological Timeline and Rocks as “Old Timers”

To give graphic demonstration of the enormous extent of geologic time with rocks and relate to tangible visual for students.

Grade level: 3-7

Tools needed: toilet paper roll, Geologic Timescale Events modifiable Excel table as students may need to adjust sheets, test pens on paper before distributing, different types of stones

Toilet paper supply:

(Must know sheet number on roll) If two-ply, it may be easier to write on. (Later research environmental impact of toilet paper manufacturing as sustainability issue.)

Be sure the dimensions are same as activity toilet roll or figure out adjustments.

Example: Windsoft 2 ply toilet tissue is white, 4.5 x 3.5 sheets; 500 sheets per roll

http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/

http://it.helped.us/save/bestprices/toilet-paper.php

Web resources:

Good visual.

Making Earth History Timeline with Toilet Paper Roll

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/toiletpaper/history.html

Best explanation for Geological Lesson with Toilet Roll and has spreadsheet

http://serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/activities/TPGeoTime.html

Helpful

Elizabeth Roettger’s Homepage

http://www.nthelp.com/eer/HOAtimetp.html

Strategy: Demonstration uses toilet paper roll sheets to mark the ages in our geological timeline for understanding of rock cycle in relation to our existence.

1. Students in groups could help in preparation by marking the sheets using Toilet paper excel.

2. Teacher prepares toilet sheets ahead of time with help of parents or students.

3. Students place stones on the timeline.

• What did you learn about the geologic timescale?
• Where could you place rocks on toilet paper timeline?
• How did your ideas about rocks’ connection to the earth change?
• How did your ideas about geologic time change?
• Why did your ideas about geologic time change?
• How can you apply what you have learned to other areas in science?