Inside the Life of Christena

Rocks are more then just rocks

When it come's up click the new mind map to get to my mind map.
 Science 4th grade Standard 5 Objective 1

Objective 1 
Ed Tech Standard 6

Science is a way of knowing, a process for gaining knowledge and understanding of the natural world. The Science Core Curriculum places emphasis on understanding and using skills. Students should be active learners. It is not enough for students to read about science; they must do science. They should observe, inquire, question, formulate and test hypotheses, analyze data, report, and evaluate findings. The students, as scientists, should have hands-on, active experiences throughout the instruction of the science curriculum.

The Elementary Science Core describes what students should know and be able to do at the end of each of the K-6 grade levels. It was developed, critiqued, piloted, and revised by a community of Utah science teachers, university science educators, State Office of Education specialists, scientists, expert national consultants, and an advisory committee representing a wide variety of people from the community. The Core reflects the current philosophy of science education that is expressed in national documents developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academies of Science. This Science Core has the endorsement of the Utah Science Teachers Association. The Core reflects high standards of achievement in science for all students.

Identify basic properties of minerals and rocks.

1. Describe the differences between minerals and rocks. 
2. Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals. 
3. Sort rocks by appearance according to the three basic types: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic (e.g., sedimentary-rounded-appearing mineral and rock particles that are cemented together, often in layers; igneous-with or without observable crystals that are not in layers or with or without air holes or glass like; metamorphic -crystals/minerals, often in layers). 
4. Classify common rocks found in Utah as sedimentary (i.e., sandstone, conglomerate, shale), igneous (i.e., basalt, granite, obsidian, pumice) and metamorphic (i.e., marble, gneiss, schist). 

Kids see rocks all the time, it is fun when they know what kinds of rocks are around them. They will also learn more about rocks and minerals in higher levels. If possible I would take my students to the base of a mountain and show them how the layers of rocks are different which was caused by erosion over thousands of years.