Subject(s): Multi-Disciplinary, Art, Language Arts, Science, Computers & Internet Grades(s): Grades 4-5
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Title – Rocking With Minerals Science Objectives:
2.02 Analyze the mineral composition of rocks. 2.03 Assess the uses of rocks and minerals. Essential Questions:
What are the three main types of rocks? How do rocks change over time? What are the ways humans use rocks and minerals? Timeline: 1 day KWL Chart on rocks and minerals; do independent, partner, group, and class Sample Calendar (January 2004):
Activities: 1. Rock and Mineral Research Students will make the connection between rocks and minerals and commonly used items. The teacher will explain that ore minerals provide metal for household appliances, and cars, quartz used in televisions and radios, and gypsum is used to make plasterboard and paint. Students will look at items located on a table (it will have a drill bit, a filled saltshaker, and a light bulb, a can of white paint, container of bath powder, a glass, and a roll of film). Students will then be given an index card with one of the following rocks and minerals: diamond, halite, quartz, silver, chalk, titanium, and tungsten. Students will use an encyclopedia and the internet to research their rock or mineral to find its common uses. Once they research and print it out and they will use the computer to type a summary of their rock or mineral and its common uses. 2. Chalk Painting Students will learn that thousands of years ago people crushed rocks to obtain colors for paints. The teacher will hold up a piece of chalk and ask the students what it is. Then the teacher will tell the students that the chalk is limestone. The chalk powder has been used as a white pigment (coloring). The teacher will supply the following items to the students and then guide them through the steps shown to make their own chalk painting. When all the paintings are done the work could be placed on a bulletin board. Materials for each student:
Step 1: Put your chalk inside the plastic bag, flatten the bag to remove the extra air, and close the bag securely. 3. Rock Out Game Before the activity cut an equal number of red, blue, and brown rock shapes from construction paper so each child will have a rock. Distribute randomly to students, one rock per child. Explain that the red rocks are igneous, the blue ones sedimentary, and the brown ones metamorphic. Define and describe each type of rock before playing the game and how they can change through the rock cycle. Three people will bring their rocks to the front. Say “Heads down, rocks out!” All students who are seated will put their rocks on their desks, close their eyes, and put heads down. The three people walk around, exchange their rocks with three who are seated and then return to the front of the room. Next, call out “Heads up, rock check!” The seated students who now have different rocks stand up. If each one can state the change and why it happened, he takes the place of the student who exchanged rocks with him. If not, he sits back down. Keep going until everyone has had a turn being a part of the rock cycle. 4. Field Trip to a good rock finding area (Hiddenite, North Carolina) Students will get the chance to dig for their own rocks and minerals. 5. Rock Search Students will make a rock booklet to record data on a rock that they find. The students will take a nature walk around the school to find a special rock that they would like to collect data on. 6. Rock Centers Students will go through various centers to gather data on their rock they found on the nature walk. There will be six little centers and they are as follows:
Students will clean their rock and look at it with a hand lens. They will draw what it looks like, and record it in the data journal. B. Finding the True Color Students will find the true color of their rock by performing the streak test. Students will rub the rock across an unglazed ceramic tile. The streak of the color left on the tile’s surface is the rock’s true color. If no streak is left then it is harder than the tile. Students will record the information in their rock journal. C. Hard Evidence Students will learn about the Mohs scale. A mineral will scratch other minerals that are softer than itself and will be scratched by minerals that are harder. Put pennies, a knife, a glass jar, in the center. Students will try to scratch a penny, a knife, and the glass jar with their rock. Students will record what his rock scratched in the rock journal. D. Fizzy Findings Students will learn that rocks with limestone will effervesce or bubble when they come into contact with a weak acid such as vinegar. Students will conduct an experiment by using vinegar in a dropper to see if bubbling occurs. They will write their findings in their rock journal. E. Attractive Rocks Place magnets in a center area. Students will learn that a rock containing metal will be attracted to a magnet. Students will hold the magnet to their rock and see if it is attracted. Then they will record their findings in the rock journal. F. Get Wet Students will find out if their rock sinks or floats. The students will learn that a pumice rock will float. Students will place their rocks into a cup of water and they will watch to see if it sinks or floats. Then they will record their findings. 7. Writing Activities (choose one a week)
– Students will imagine they are a certain type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) and explain how the rock was formed and how it changed from one type of rock to another. Throughout the story students will describe how the rock feels as the changes are occurring. – Students will compare and contrast two different types of rocks first using a Venn diagram and then writing it in a paragraph. – Students will write a paper detailing how life would be different if there were no rocks and minerals.
Assessments: (Can be given any time during the unit after the information is covered)
– Students will describe characteristics of the three types of rocks. (can be done after the rock out game) – Students will describe the rock cycle and describe hoe the rocks change from one type to another. (can be done after the rock out game) – Given a type of rock, students will identify it as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock. (can be done after the rock out game) – Students will list the many ways rocks and minerals are used in everyday life. (can be done after mineral research and presentations) Resources: Investigating Science: Rocks and Minerals . Mailbox, TEC 1747 Literature Books:
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