I.

LESSON FOUNDATION
Lesson Title: Rocks Rock!
Unit Title: STEM
Grade Level: 5th & 6th Grade

Lesson Number: 1
Time Allotted: 60 minutes
Subject Area: Earth Science

STANDARD/ANCHORS:
3.1 Unifying Themes 3.1.7. A. Explain the parts of a simple system and their relationship
to each other.
3.5 Earth Sciences 3.5.7. A. Describe earth features and processes. Explain how the rock
cycle affected rock formations.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. What are the three different types of rocks?
2. What are the characteristics of rocks?
3. How does the rock cycle work?

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
1. The students will be able to define the difference between sedimentary, igneous
and metamorphic rocks and construct them.
2. The students will be able to sketch the rock cycle and describe each stage.
3. The students will be able to list the characteristics of rocks with 80 percent
accuracy.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:

1. Throughout the lesson, the students will raise their hands during the PowerPoint
instruction when we ask them questions.
1. When it comes to individual work, we will allow the students to use play-doh to
represent all three types of rocks sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
1. As a class, we will construct a rock cycle.
2. The students must complete a worksheet at the end of the class period. We will
watch and help them with any questions they may have.
II. LESSON BODY
INTRODUCTION:
We will introduce ourselves and show a couple sample rocks to the class and see
what they come up with. (Ex: Oh, that one looks like it has pieces in it! That one is
red. etc.) Then, we will project the title page of our presentation, Rocks Rock!. Once
the topic has been established, we will continue on with the PowerPoint.
TEACHING PROCEDURES:
Guided Practice We will go through the presentation information and have
them write notes. There are bolded phrases and words that we tell them to star
because they are the most important and answer the essential questions. As a
class, we will sketch the rock cycle and make a list of rock characteristics. Both of
these will be handed out as a worksheet after we have made our own on the board.
Independent Practice In the middle of the lesson, the students will be able to
get into groups of 3 or 4 and use play-doh to form the 3 different types of rocks.
By first testing their knowledge in groups, it makes the students less nervous

because it is not all on them to do the work. It also gives them hands-on
experience, which is a great way to stray from lecture and allow them to interact
with one another.
CLOSURE:
At the end of the lesson, we will give the students a worksheet to complete that
incorporates all the important components of the lesson. They will have time to ask
questions and work on it, but if it is not completed, they will be required to finish it for
homework.
III. LESSON ESSENTIALS
DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
1. Independent Practice: Students will be able to do hands-on practice of the topic
by using play-doh to help with their visualization of the rock types. This will
benefit the kinesthetic learners because they will be able to work on something
themselves rather than listening to a lecture. Also, the students that are visual
learners will greatly benefit because they learn best when they can put a picture to
a problem to help solve it.
2. Small Group Practice: As a small group, the students will be able to use playdoh to create the rock types. Each group will be given a different rock to try out.
Then, they will be required to form the remaining two types. By doing this, small
groups are formed and they work independently, but then can discuss with one
another their results and consult with one another. This will benefit the
intrapersonal learners because they will have the experience of doing it

themselves, but also branching out and talking with peers as either clarification or
general assistance.
3. Large Group Practice: As a large group, we will discuss the three types of rocks,
the rock cycle and characteristics. As a class, we will make one large rock cycle.
This will help the interpersonal learners since they will be able to work with
everyone else. Also, they do not have as much pressure to answer because helping
with the image is voluntary. This is a great way to also see who is really getting it
and who might need a little more help.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES, MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY:
- Poster Board
- Crayons/Markers
- Play-doh
- Worksheets
- Computer
- PowerPoint
- http://www.mineralogy4kids.org/rock-cycle
- http://gregdiv4.weebly.com/6-characteristics-for-rocks-and-minerals.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE3jR_RhxO4
IV. POST LESSON REFLECTION
ANALYSIS OF STUDENT LEARNING:
1. We will walk around the class and make sure they are correctly completing and
fully understanding the worksheet, which will help us determine whether or not
the objectives were met.

2. Questions to Consider: Did the students seem confident when they were called on
to answer a question? Were there a lot of volunteers? Were there a lot of questions
asked during the lesson? How well did they do on the worksheet?
ANALYSIS OF TEACHING:
1. We will review the worksheets and if anything needs to be retaught, we will make
sure to do this before they continue on to the next lesson.
2. Questions to Consider: Did I stress the important information effectively? Could I
make any changes to the lesson, for future reference, to make it better? Was I able
to answer all the questions that I received from the students? Was the material too
easy or too hard?