Congratulations, It's a Rock
by Chad Schulz, stvnschulz@aol.com

Content Area(s)
English/Language Arts
Science

Grade Level(s)
4, 5, 6, 

Overview
Students will learn about the three classifications of rocks and the rock cycle by becoming "parents" of a rock. They will use internet reference sources, rock samples, and creative writing to discover more about their newly adopted "child". Students will transfer creative writing assignments to PowerPoint presentations. Handheld’s will be used in the writing phase of this lesson, as well as, in drafting an Inspiration flowchart.

Software
Inspiration
Documents to Go

Technology
Computers
Flex-cam
Floppy Disk
PowerPoint
Websites:
•UBC Science
www.science.ubc.ca/~geol202/rock_cycle/rockcycle.html
•Cotf. Modules
www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html
•BBC Rocks
www.bbc.co.uk/education/rocks/rockcycle.shtml
•Rocks & Minerals
www.rocksandminerals.com/rockcycle.htm

Objectives
The learner will:
1. Differentiate between the three different classifications of rocks.
2. Explain the rock cycle.
3. Identify rock samples.
4. Generate and present an Inspiration flow chart and a PowerPoint slideshow describing a given rock.

Procedures

Day 1
1. Students will be presented with their rock "baby".
2. Students will name, describe and write creatively about what their rock likes to do in its spare time (via Handheld).
3. Students will group up with one another and notice similarities and differences with each others rock, via a Venn diagram. (via Paper and Pencil)

Day 2
1. The teacher will introduce vocabulary to students via PowerPoint projection.
2. Students will identify their rock "babies" as Igneous, Metamorphic or Sedimentary following a class discussion.
3. The teacher will visit several websites, via computer projection, so that students may see the rock cycle diagram.
4. Students will view various rock samples via the flex-cam and television.
5. Students will begin, in groups, an Inspiration flow chart sharing the information learned about the three classifications of rocks. Facts will branch off of each subcategory. (via Handheld)

Day 3
1. The students will write a creative story about their rock. In this story, students will generate an explanation on how their rock came into existence. Student must use the proper terminology. Students will write from birth until death of their rock. (via Handheld)
2. The student will highlight important information to give an introduction of their rock to the class.

Day 4 and 5
1. The students will complete their Inspiration flow chart and prepare a PowerPoint presentation to introduce their rock "child" to the class. (via projection)
2. The students will present their presentation.

Other Supporting Material

Submitted on: 8/5/2004 12:25:36 AM