S+1.2.1+Lesson+2

= LESSON PLAN = created by:Jenny Correa, Jacquie Johnson, Elaine Marshall, Kristina Adams.

__Core Objective/Standard__:
Standard 1: The Processes, Communication, and Nature of Science. Objective 2: Communicating Science: Communicating effectively using science language and reasoning. Objective 3: Knowing in Science: Understanding the nature of science.

__Student learning objective__:
The students will observe, compare, describe, and sort types of rocks by size, texture, and color.

__Materials needed__:
Various rocks (small samples that students brought in to class - no larger than a baseball), magnifying glasses, blue light (to show the different elements of rocks), chart paper/markers (to make a KWL chart), pre-made "labels" for rock samples such as: sharp, smooth, round, square, brown, black, heavy, rough, etc. (or you could generate these as a class) If available: a book about rocks. Title: //Rocks: Hard, Soft, Smooth, and Rough (Amazing Science)// [|Rosinsky] (Author), [|Natalie M] (Author), [|John] (Illustrator), [|Matthew] (Illustrator)

__Teacher (To) directions/actions/instructions__:

 * Hook: Introduce the activity by placing a rock inside of a can, outside of the view of the students. (The students do not know that it is a rock inside of the can.) We call this the "guessing can". The students will ask questions about the object in the can. (Is it living? Is it non-living? Is it soft? Is it smooth? etc.)
 * Introduce that we will be studying rocks because we are scientists and will be learning about the world around us. Read aloud the book about rocks.
 * Have a class discussion by introducing the KWL chart. Ask students to raise their hands and tell what they know about rocks. Write these ideas down on the KWL chart.
 * Ask the students what they would like to know about rocks. Add this to the KWL chart as well.
 * Teacher has a collection of different rock samples that he/she will sort in front of the class as there is a discussion about how they are sorted and why they are sorted in such a way.
 * Assign the students to bring a small rock sample from home - no larger than a baseball. As students bring them in, collect them. (teacher will have their own "additions" to the rock samples as well)

__Teachers/Students (With) actions__:

 * Gather student rock samples.
 * Model sorting and classifying rocks for the students by the teacher thinking out loud and grouping the rocks into the appropriate groups. Have the students give their input and comments to "help" the teacher match the rock to the label.
 * Discuss why these rocks were put under the labels they were.
 * Have a teacher led class discussion about the activity.

__Students (By) actions/activities students will do during lesson__:

 * Students are put into smaller groups and will be given rock samples and labels to sort together. Tell students that there may be differences in their opinions about where the rocks should be classified. If they disagree, they need to make additional observations to decide where the rocks belong. Tell the students that it is okay to disagree.
 * The teacher will monitor the activity.


 * As a closure activity, the students will join together as a class and have a discussion on what they learned about rocks.
 * Together, the class will finish completing the KWL chart by adding what they would like to STILL know about rocks.

__Assessment-these may be written, verbal, observations, etc__:

 * Verbal and Observation. Students will be assessed by the teacher watching and listening as they completing their rock sorting activity.