Simulations, Models, and Analogues

Definitions:

Simulations: imitation or enactment, as of something anticipated or in testing.
Models: a representation, generally in miniature, to show the construction or appearance of something;or a standard or example for imitation or comparison.
Analogues: of or pertaining to a mechanism that represents data by measurement of a continuous physical variable.


How do they relate to rocks and minerals?

1. An example of simulation done in class is mining for "ore" in chocolate chip cookies. Our ore was, in this case, chocolate chips! This simulations helped us understand the economic and environmental affect of mining. 
We started with our fist cookie by getting as many chocolate chips as we could in the least amount of time. Which resulted in our land (the rest of the cookie) being basically demolished. We received "money" for our chocolate chips, but also received great fines for not preserving our land. 

While "mining" in the second cookie, we were given more time to find the chocolate chips and had to use more precise tools to preserve the cookie around it. Again, we received "money" for our chocolate chips (ore), but did not get fines because our land was still intact. 

2. A few examples of models that happened in class:
-The M&M modeled Earth's crust, mantle, and core. 
http://erinpowleymsed252.blogspot.com/2013/01/m-and-earth-observation.html
-Crystal Model
http://erinpowleymsed252.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-bonding-and-compounds-oh-my.html

Examples of other models for rocks:
-The Crayon Model can show the rock cycle:
http://www.exo.net/~emuller/activities/Crayon-Rock-Cycle.pdf
A vocab sheet to supplement the model:
http://mjksciteachingideas.com/pdf/RockCycleVocab.pdf
-Metamorphic: Butterfingers bitten in half can model the compression and layering of metamorphic rocks. And Gluten Free!

-Igneous:
Igenous Fudge! 

3. We have been working with several analogues in class. We have created Mineral and Rock Identification sheets that show pictures of the minerals or rocks with information about the minerals or rocks next to it.