Arizona STEM
Acceleration Project
Rocks and Minerals
UNDERSTANDING THE ROCK CYCLE
A 3rd grade Sciences STEM lesson
Nidia Hurtado
January 8/2024
Notes for Teachers
List of Materials:
Science Standards:
3.E1U1.4 Construct an explanation describing how the Sun is the primary source of energy impacting Earth systems
● Earth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans).
Science and Engineering Practices
3.RI.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
3.RI.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect
3.RI.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect
Objective(s):
Today, we will articulate the concept that a mineral is a naturally occurring solid with a distinctive crystal shape.
Today, we will illustrate that rocks are composed of individual mineral pieces fused together, through practical demonstrations.
Today, we will enhance our collaborative in hands on and communication skills by working effectively with peers to explain the processes involved in the formation, breakdown, and movement of rocks within the rock cycle, and how the sun helps in this process.
By the end of today's lesson, students will proficiently identify various types of rocks through hands-on exploration and excavation in soil.
Agenda (45 minutes)
• Why do rocks come in different colors?
• How does sand come from rocks?
• How does sand become rocks?
What is a wind turbine?
HANDS ON ACTIVITY IN CLASS
The Rocks cycle.
The rock cycle is an essential part of How the Earth System Works.
Rocks can be made in different ways. Some are made from minerals, which are tiny pieces with a special shape and makeup. Others are made from bits of other rocks. Some rocks are shiny and glassy, like obsidian, while others have stuff from living things, like coal, which has carbon from plants.
Different types of rocks form in different places on or below the Earth's surface. For example, igneous rocks form when melted rock from deep inside the Earth cools down either slowly underground or quickly if it comes out of a volcano. Metamorphic rocks happen when rocks deep inside the Earth change because of heat and pressure. Sedimentary rocks come from bits of other rocks that get weathered and eroded, then pressed together over time.
The rock cycle is like a journey for rocks, and it can take many paths depending on what's happening in the environment. The texture, structure, and makeup of a rock can tell us about how it formed and the Earth's history. It's an important part of understanding how our Earth works!
Read-Aloud
Hands-On Activity Instructions
In a group of 4
Students dig into dirt to find differents kinds of rock and classify them using a magnify.
For digging:
How do we assess our work?
Students are tasked with generating a poster individually or collaboratively with their group, elucidating the various stages of the rock cycle. It is recommended that they employ color-coded elements to delineate distinct types of rocks and associated processes.
As an extension of this activity, students have the option to utilize Chromebooks to access Adobe Photoshop, where they can engage in the creation of digital representations of rocks. This may involve following a tutorial to enhance their proficiency in drawing and painting geological formations.
https://youtu.be/bFB9FE18POY?si=CN8kqY9A1DQOemnO�
Assessment
Present the poster to the class, explaining the stages of the rock cycle. Describe the color-coded elements you used to represent different types of rocks and processes.
ELA Assessment
Are you using complete sentences in your presentation?
Did you use correct spelling when you wrote your words?
-
Differentiation
I will provide visual aids, diagrams, and graphic organizers to scaffold understanding.
Also, I will give them templates or frameworks that guide them through the explanation process.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Students who are successful right away can get additional resources to explore the topic in greater depth.