Understanding by Design Template

Overview and Background
Title	Rocks & Soil
Grade Level	4th
Topics	Rocks, erosion, soil
Start Date	Oct. (Beginning)
Timeframe	6- 8 weeks
Summary	This unit combines the study of rock, minerals, erosion, & rocks. Students participate in experiments, use both textbook & online resources, and basic computer documents such as Word and Inspiration.
Designers	Wendy Wiens, Laurie Thisius, Stephanie Thalmann
Print Materials Needed	Pebbles, Sand, Silt (1^st grade Foss) Accent on Science Textbook , Mineral Chapter – preview chart & scavenger hunt Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 118-119 (Mineral property chart) - Technical look-alike reading assessment on computer Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 131 (Rock property chart) - Technical look-alike reading assessment on computer Guided Reading book sets (CES Library) (High Group) Morris, Neil. Rocks & Minerals RL5.8 – Pts. 0.5 (Middle Group) Ricciuti. Rocks and Minerals – AR-NF 4.0/0.5 (Low Group) Let’s Go Rock Collecting AR 3.7/0.5 Rock & Minerals Website - Expository look-alike reading assessment on computer Rock Cycle Website - Graphic organizer on computer McGraw Hill Textbook information, C38 -41 (Erosion) McGraw Hill Textbook information, C 42 – 51 (Soil) Video – The Science of Soil Video - Let’s Go Rock Collecting by Reading Rainbow Video - Rocks & Minerals by Eyewitness Video
Internet Links	www.rocks-and-minerals.com www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/squirm/skworm.html
Stage 1
Standards Area & Number	Content Standards(s) Kansas Standard 4: Earth and Space Science, Benchmark 1: Indicator 1,2, 3, & 4:
Standards text	Content Standards(s) Kansas Standard 4: Earth and Space Science, Benchmark 1: All students will develop and understanding of the properties of earth materials. Indicator 1: Observe and classify a variety of earth materials in their environment. ▲Indicator 2: Collect, observe and become aware of properties of various earth materials. Indicator 3: Experiment with a variety of soils. ▲ Indicator 4: Describe properties of many different kinds of rocks.
Understandings	Students will understand that… Over arching understanding – All life depends on the erosion process. Rocks are part of the erosion process. Life on land depends on soil.
Essential Questions	Essential Questions(s) · How does life depend on soil? · What part do rocks play in the erosion process? · What is in soil that sustains life or provides nourishment? Unit Understandings: · What are rocks and how are rocks formed? · Why are there different types of rocks? · What is soil and how is soil formed? · Why are there different types of soils? · How does the composition of the soil effect what type of vegetation grows?
Knowledge	Students will know: · Rocks are made of minerals and inorganic material. · Soil is made up of small bits of weathered rock mixed with organic materials from plants and animals. · Continued erosion of rocks will become soil, grains of sand or clay. · Different biomes have different types of soil and therefore different vegetation. · The effects soil has on the food chain
Skills	Students will be able to: · Observe various types of rocks and classify them by their composition. · Illustrate the formation of rocks. · Observe various soil samples and classify their composition. · Illustrate the formation of soil. · Explain how erosion effects earth materials. · Investigate which type of soil supports a plant best. · Students will be able to create a flow chart showing an example of the food chain using Microsoft Word.
Stage 2: Performance Task
Assessment Summary	Students develop and present a short presentation for kindergarteners or first graders about rocks, erosion, and soil. They may present this information in a variety of ways: PowerPoint slides, posters, drawings on the computer, hands on samples, etc.
Student Directions	The kindergarten and first grade teachers have requested a short presentation for their students by our fourth grade experts on rocks, erosion, and soil. Your job is to develop and present a short presentation about what you have learned about rocks, erosion, and soil. Your presentation must include the following: · What are rocks and how are rocks formed? · Why are there different types of rocks? · What is soil and how is soil formed? · Why are there different types of soils? · How does the type of soil effect what kind of plants grow there? · How does erosion help the earth? How does erosion hurt the earth · YOUR CHOICE OF FACTS · YOUR CHOICE OF FACTS Your presentation may include: PowerPoint slides Posters Drawings on the computer Hands on samples (such as rocks and soil)
Rubric (table in Word)
Other Evidence Tests, Quizzes, Observations, Journals, etc.	Inspiration Graphic Organizer (main idea & details of book) Pebbles, Sand, Silt (1^st grade Foss) Preview Chart & Scavenger Hunt - Accent on Science Textbook , Mineral Chapter Technical look-alike reading reading assessment on computer - Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 118-119 (Mineral property chart) Technical look-alike reading assessment on computer - Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 131 (Rock property chart) Expository look-alike reading assessment on the computer - Rock & Minerals Website Graphic Organizer on computer - Rock Cycle Website - http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html McGraw Hill worksheets (from series)
Stage 3 Learning Activities
What sequence of teaching and learning experiences will be used?
1. Hook	Display a variety of rocks, minerals, and soil. Allow students time to examine and discuss what they know about rocks, minerals, and soil. Pose the questions: How are these alike and different? What are these used for? How might your life benefit from these materials?
2. Overview and expectation	This unit introduces the concepts of rocks, minerals, erosion, and soil to fourth grade students. Students are expected to make connections of how these concepts depend on each other and are a integral part of sustaining life on earth.
3. Teaching Activities, Assessments & Rethinking opportunities in order	Pebbles, Sand, Silt book (1^st grade Foss)- read & make Inspiration web using main topics
4.	Accent on Science Textbook , Mineral Chapter - Preview Chart Scavenger Hunt
5.	Scratch Test – 4^th grade Foss- List properties of minerals Mineral scratch test Write technical directions of Scratch Test Procedure
6.	Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 118-119 (minerals)- Technical look-alike reading assessment on computer
7.	Accent on Science Textbook, pg. 131-132 (rocks)- Technical look-alike reading assessment on computer
8.	Calcite Conquest – 4^th grade Foss – Find sample with Calcite
9.	Rock & Minerals Website - Expository look-alike reading assessment on computer www.rocks-and-minerals.com
10.	Rock Cycle Website- Graphic organizer on computer www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html
11.	Experiment – erosion by ice - Fill plastic containers with water, freeze to show water expansion
12.	McGraw Hill Textbook information, C38 -41 (Erosion)- Read & discuss
13.	Erosion examples from computer information- List types of erosion, how they occur & what they look like
14.	McGraw Hill Textbook information, C 42 – 51 (Soil) - Read & discuss Worksheets
15.	Video– The Science of Soil (Videos for the Classroom) - Watch video – compare to information in McGraw Hill Textbook information
16.	Soil Fact poster - List & illustrate 6 things they’ve learned about soil (computer & drawing)
17.	SK Worm website- Graphic organizer on computer http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/squirm/skworm.html
18.	Performance Task – presentation for Kindergarten or 1^st grade - Develop and present a short presentation about what you have learned about rocks, erosion, and soil.