Sedimentary, Igeneous, and Metamorphic Rocks

Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic Rocks

Author: Alison Boehm, Section # 19015


Grade Level: Grade 4
Time frame: 5 class periods; 45 minutes each.

Lesson Description or Explanation:

This lesson will start as a review of what the students have learned thus far: Sedimentary, metamorphic, and Igneous rocks. The students will use the information that they have already learned to visually see the three types of rocks complete the rock cycle with a crayon experiment.


Indiana Curricular Standards

4.3.6 Recognize and describe that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals
4.3.7 Explain that smaller rocks come from the breakage and weathering of bedrock and larger rocks and that soil is made partly from weathered rock, partly from plant remains, and also contains many living organisms.

ISTE Standards

2.a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
2.d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

Assessments, Formative/Summative

Formative Assessment: The students will revisit their initial KWL charts. The students will be assessed on their knowledge learned on the Learned portion of their KWL charts.
Summative Assessment: The student’s PowerPoint presentations will be assessed on overall creativity and subject content.


Prior Knowledge

Curricular Knowledge or Skills: The students will discuss in small groups what they learned thus far about metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks. Students will formulate questions about the rock cycle based on what they know and have learned about igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Technology Knowledge: The students will be given instructions on how to use the digital cameras. They have had previous experience with PowerPoint and the internet in their technology class.

Technology

Internet Resources: http://Google.com; http://Bing.com; http://manythings.org; http://microsoft.com/enable/at

Hardware: Microsoft PowerPoint

Software: DVD, Earth Science, Rock and Learn, 2008

Procedure

Day 1

• Students will see what they have collectively learned about metamorphic rocks, sedimentary, and igneous rocks on their classroom KWL charts.
• - Crayon experiment students will perform a science experiment using crayons to show the rock cycle. Broken pieces of crayons represent the igneous rocks, then melting the “sediments” together to form sedimentary rocks. The sedimentary rocks are then broken into pieces which represent metamorphic rocks. The metamorphic rocks are then melted, which represent lava, which turns back into igneous rock, thus showing how the rock cycle is circular.
• The students will be assisting and observing the instructor doing the crayon experiment.
• Students will watch an Earth Science DVD to summarize what they have learned about the 3 categories of rocks.

Day 2

• Students will take digital cameras outside in groups of 2-3 students to find examples of each of the 3 types of rocks. Students will then transfer the pictures to a computer via a USB cord.

Day 3-4

• Students will create a PowerPoint presentation in groups of 2-3 students using the information from the text sets, and the picture images. Students will also be able to access Google.com or Bing.com to find more information about rocks. Presentations should focus on the course content, while being aesthetically pleasing.

Day 5

• Students will present their PowerPoint presentations to their peers.

Differentiated Instruction
ESL Students will be able to Google “Language Tools” to translate unfamiliar words or web pages. They will also be directed to http://manythings.org to develop English vocabulary.

Challenge/Extend
Students will be able to extend their PowerPoint presentation. They may include diagrams and graphs within their presentations. They may present their lesson using animation and sounds for their audience.

Special Needs
This lesson is designed so the students can learn in whatever way is most productive for them by looking at books of a text set to pull information and answer questions, viewing educational websites, and writing about what they know/creative writing to represent the rock cycle, while using mathematical and scientific skills.

Students with special needs will be supported by using Microsoft Assisstive Technology products. http://microsoft.com/enable/at