Rocks and Minerals
Lesson 1
Sharing What We Know About Rocks
Students brainstorm what they know about rocks and discuss what they want to know about rocks. They are also introduced to the concept that rocks have properties.
3. Lesson set up and Management
INQD: Simple instruments, such as magnifiers, thermometers, and rulers provide more information than scientists can obtain using only their unaided senses.
PS2A: Objects have properties, including size, weight, hardness, color, shape, texture, and magnetism. Unknown substances can sometimes be identified by their properties.
PS2B: An object may be made from different materials. These materials give the object certain properties.
- Students brainstorm what they know about rocks and discuss what questions they have about them.
- Students are introduced to the concept "Rocks have properties" as they observe and record observations for three different rock samples.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
- Replace four sheets of newsprint with a large flip chart tablet of blank paper so the charts and list for the whole unit are together for easy access.
- Signs with each material and the amount needed to be picked up at the materials center are helpful.
Student Management:
- Assign one partner to be the materials manager and have that student pick up the materials from the materials center after you model how to do it.
- PREPARATION #2
- Add the lesson # to the upper right-hand corner of all your teacher generated charts. When you are asked to refer back to the chart throughout the unit, the lesson # will make it easier.
- Use your flip chart for teacher generated charts instead of newsprint or use newsprint and laminate them before adding student generated information so they can be used year after year.
- PROCEDURE #10
- When you are getting ready to have students record their observations about the three rock samples, it is a great time to review scientific observation versus opinion words (example – hard vs. pretty).
Writing Support:
- Students will record their observations about the three rock samples on Record Sheet 1-A, and students will write their thoughts about rocks in their science notebooks, focusing on what they know about rocks, where they have found rocks and how they think rocks are used.
- Allow students to record their observations about their pet rocks on the Pet Rock Sheet (PDF).
- Have students write an expository paragraph sharing what they learned about their pet rocks.
Reading Support:
- Read Everybody Needs a Rock before beginning Lesson 1. Allow students to find a rock following the rules in the book.
Math Support:
- Allow students to brainstorm some tests they can run on their pet rocks. Have tape measures and balance scales available for students to use to measure their rocks.