Video Our world: the rock cycle

TLF ID M011996

This is a NASA 'Our World' video clip focusing on how Moon rocks brought back to Earth by astronauts have helped scientists understand more about how the main rock types of the moon differ from those on Earth. The human narrator is accompanied by a cartoon character, and rocks dressed as puppets. The role of the rock cycle in forming different types of Earth rocks is explored in some animated scenes, and the origins of the three main Moon rock types are explained. Based on this understanding scientists can piece together the geological history of the Moon. The NASA eClip is on YouTube and runs for 4 mins 09 secs.





Educational details

Educational value
  • This first part of the video clip may support the Earth and space sciences sub-strand of the curriculum for year 8, in particular the content description relating to understanding how sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks are formed by processes occurring within Earth. The second part of the clip would enable students to apply their understanding of how rocks are recycled to the lunar context.
  • The video clip may also be used to support the year 8 Science as a human endeavour sub-strand, in particular how scientific discoveries have significantly changed people's understanding of the world. In this context, the clip shows how investigating the geology of rock samples brought back from the Moon has changed our understanding of the Moon's origins and geological history.
  • The clip can be utilised by students studying independently or used as a teaching aid.
  • The resource may contribute to students attaining the element of the year 8 achievement standard that involves comparing processes of rock formation that occur within Earth. In the context of this resource it would also involve comparing lunar and terrestrial rock formation processes, although this could be considered to be outside of the scope of the standard.
Year level

8

Learning area
  • Science

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: NASA
  • Organization: NASA
  • Description: Repository
  • Address: UNITED STATES
  • URL: http://www.nasa.gov/
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Publisher
  • Name: NASA
  • Organization: NASA
  • Description: Publisher
  • Address: UNITED STATES
  • URL: http://www.nasa.gov/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Video
Rights
  • NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted. If not copyrighted, NASA material may be reproduced and distributed free of charge for noncommercial educational purposes without further permission from NASA. NASA should be acknowledged as the source of the material. If copyrighted, permission should be obtained from the copyright owner prior to use. Key image by Jesse Allen, NASA’s Earth Observatory using data courtesy of the MODIS Land Group.