Rocks and Minerals
Lesson 2
Observing Rocks: How Are They the Same and Different?
Students explore the properties of rocks by comparing and contrasting 12 rock samples.
3. Lesson set up and Management
GLE 1.1.1 Understand how to use properties to sort natural and manufactured materials and objects.
GLE 1.1.5 Understand physical properties of Earth materials including rocks, soil, water, and air. (3) Describe and sort rocks based on physical properties (e. g. color, shape, size, texture).
- Students explore the properties of rocks.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
- 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.
- PROCEDURE #5
- In their science notebooks, have students record each of the senses they will be using to observe so they can discuss and record ideas. This keeps students focused on each sense when observing properties.
- PROCEDURE #6
- Consider having students sort their rocks based on teacher generated examples first (for example - "Sort your rock by shape") before they generate their own ideas.
Rock sorting - How do we sort rocks? How does a geologist sort rocks?
- FINAL ACTIVITIES #1
- Consider having the students keep their rock samples at their seats to complete this writing in their notebooks. The questions to help the students focus on the task might be reworded:
- What property did you choose?
- What words would you use to describe that property?
- When you sorted the rocks, how many groups did you end up with?
- Consider having the students keep their rock samples at their seats to complete this writing in their notebooks. The questions to help the students focus on the task might be reworded:
Writing Support:
- Students will think about one property that was discussed and record in their science notebooks:
- Which property they chose.
- Which words can be used to describe that property.
- How many groups they made when they sorted rock samples using that property.
- Students complete a compare and contrast graphic organizer for two rock samples of their choice.
Reading Support:
- Read "Rolling Stones" on page 2 of Kids Discover ROCKS (the reading supplement to the kit) at the end of the lesson.
Math Support:
- Have measurement tools available for students to use as they compare and contrast their two samples.
Last updated 09/05/2007