Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
Overview
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
11
Lesson 5
13
Culminating Activity
15
16
Materials
17
22
Unit Overview
This unit plan is composed of five lesson plans, a culminating activity, and a
final unit assessment. In the lessons the students will learn about the changes on
the earths surface that occur over long periods of time and suddenly. They will
recognize the products of these changes. They will also be given the freedom to
work together in small groups to teach the entire class chunks of the final lesson.
Not only will students be learning about science they will also be incorporating
language arts and learning how to work together with limited guidance.
geodes, but she was very happy to put them in her flower bed. (Pass the geode around
the room and let the students observe) Lets think way back to third grade when we
learned about rocks. Remember that rocks are made up of one or more minerals. Today
were going to build on to that knowledge and learn about weathering.
Explore: I would like this third of the room to gather around the student computer. This
third in the middle to grab the Websters Dictionary, and this third on the far right to pull
out your science books. As groups you are going to do some research. Take 10 minutes to
look up the definition of weathering, you may discuss it and put it into your own words.
After the ten minutes are up one group member will report back to the rest of the class.
You may begin.
Explain: (All groups will report back to the rest of the classroom regardless if they claim
to have found the same information. Once the class has reported have them write down
the teachers definition of weathering and then all read aloud the definition as a class)
Weathering is the breaking down or disintegration of substances such as rocks and
minerals by physical or chemical processes. It does this without movement of the rock or
mineral itself.
Now that last part might sound a little strange now, but once we gather more
information, the no movement will be extremely helpful when deciding if weathering is
actually occurring.
Elaborate: (Read definition again emphasizing the physical and chemical process)Do
you think this process is quick or do you think it takes time? Explain. (Ensure that
students leave discussion knowing that weathering is a process that can take an extremely
long time- years at least)What does chemical and physical mean? (Re-read definition and
give students time to discuss ideas of what they think the two processes mean) Lets take
a look at this video http://www.teachertube.com/video/physical-vs-chemicalweathering-30652
Evaluate: Questions to ask to the class: What is weathering? What do you mean when
you say a physical process? Can you give an example? (Have class write down examples
of physical weathering underneath their definition of weathering, do the same for
chemical.) What do you mean when you say chemical process? Can you give an
example?
Closure: Today was an introduction to how the earth changes tomorrow we will be
adding to this new information. I suggest that you keep a hold of your definition of
weathering, you will need it tomorrow.
Differentiated Instruction:
Students who need more structure and guidance will be given an outline for the notes to help
keep them focused on the main ideas of the lesson.
Technology:
The World Wide Web for research and a video about the difference between physical and
chemical processes of weathering
thoughts) Does anyone know the reasoning behind no-till farming? (Give a description of
no-till farming) Loose soil, top soil specifically, which is the good stuff that has all the
nutrients for the crops, can travel away from the field which is called.. (EROSION)
and then it can be deposited elsewhere. How do you think soil can travel? (Allow for a
brief discussion and move onto next task.) To put into action what youve learned about
erosion, today were going to have a lab. (Read directions pass out materials and allow
the students to work in pairs or alone. The lab can be found in the Materials portion of
this unit plan, see Table of Contents.)
Evaluate: Walk around the room during the lab, encourage the students to question and
explore with heavier weathered material other than the small balls of paper. Once lab is
completed wrap up lesson with a few questions of what happened and how the lab is
applied to what weve been learning.
Closure: Weve learned about weathering and erosion, there is still one more important
piece of the puzzle that we will learn about tomorrow and then continue for the remainder
of the week.
Differentiated Instruction:
During the lab- especially the lab questions some students may struggle, provide more detailed
questions if needed.
Technology: The World Wide Web
Next we will watch a video about all three processes that change the earths surface,
what are they? (After students have answered once again read the definitions together
and then play the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48zYr-S7v0 )
Elaborate: (Ask more questions and go over the main ideas in the video)
Evaluate: Pair students up with a partner and give them the flashcards
(http://www.lauracandler.com/filecabinet/science/WeatheringErosionandDeposition.pdf )
all the students will take turns quizzing one another once completed have all students
return to the desks to discuss the answers. Have students mark how many were correct on
their notes page. Inform them that we will play again, so they will have time to improve
their scores.
Closure: Now that weve learned about each of the processes tomorrow we are going to
ensure that we remember the processes. Tomorrow we will be learning a song that can
help us remember what weve learned so far.
Differentiated Instruction:
Some students may need call upon to keep them on task. You may want to provide an outline for
notes to encourage good note taking. Allow partners occasionally.
Multicultural Influence:
The video includes science terms in Spanish and was created by Bilingual Education
Technology:
Youtube
Subject: Science
memorize a song on the radio!? What if studying was that simple? Today Im going to
give you a tool to help you remember, hopefully for the rest of your life what is
weathering, erosion, and deposition? The song is called WED
Elaborate: (Pass out the lyrics and begin teaching the song piece by piece)
Evaluate: Now Id like you all to work together, how could we make this better? Is there
something we could add to the song? (Students may think of additional information or
dance moves. They are to be evaluated on their participation, not necessarily their
creativity.)
Closure: Wow, nice job! Were going to have to get really good and share this with the
other fourth grade classroom! Tomorrow we will begin learning about sudden changes in
the earths surface.
Technology: Display the lyrics on an elmo or overhead.
Evaluate: Ask the entire class questions about the groups presentations. Some could beAre there any advantages the sudden changes? Is this sudden change more disruptive or
productive? Can you think of anything else that could cause a sudden change?
Closure: We have finished the unit over Changes in the Earths surface. Tomorrow will be
one more activity and the following day will be our unit test.
Differentiated Instruction:
Some students may need more motivation and direction while working in their group projects.
Give them some sample questions that they could present in their slide.
Technology:
Computer lab
Culminating Activity
Here is your chance to show off your new knowledge! You may select one of the following
options, or create an original idea (must be approved by Ms. New) to present to your classmates.
A classroom favorite activity will be voted on upon the completion of all activities.
-A rap/ song that includes both slow and sudden changes to the earths surface
-A poem about the slow and sudden changes to the earths surface
-A childrens book about the slow and sudden changes to the earths surface
-A news report about the slow and sudden changes to the earths surface
-A (computer, board, card, etc.) game about the slow and sudden changes to the earths surface
Rubric
1= Unsatisfactory
2= Basic
3=Proficient
4=Exemplary
The product shows that the student took his/ her time while creating this activity
1
The product shows that the activity is original and not a copy of anything else (song, poem,
game, etc.)
1
The product shows knowledge of the student in the areas of sudden and slow changes to the
earths surface.
1
4. Give at least 3 examples of things that can create sudden change to the
earths surface.
1.
2.
3.
5. Name one example of how a sudden change can benefit the earths surface
Lab: Lesson 2
Names:
Materials Needed:
Weathered Material (4)
Text Books (4)
Directions & Questions:
1.
2.
3.
Begin lab
4.
5.
Blow on the weathered material with one breath until youre out of air.
6.
7.
How does this compare this to what happens to sand or soil during a
windy storm?
8.
Instead of a flat surface increase the slope by using text books (3 as a
platform and 1 as a ramp)
9.
10.
Compare this to what happens to sand or soil during a windy storm on
a hill. (Apply what weve just learned about erosion, other than wind what
other factors are helping the movement of the materials?)
Grading
You will be graded as a group and individually, while calculating the final score I will take 70%
into account of how you did individually and 30% of the total group. Your PowerPoint must be
1. Readable/ Understandable
2. No fewer slides than the number of group members
3. Filled with important information
In your presentation
1. Each group member must present his/her created slide.
2. Speak loud and clear
YOU WILL have the opportunity to grade your group members on how they participated.
For this unit plan I would like to put rocks out for the students to view. I
would have a variety from rocks that were pealing, had holes, different colors, etc.
I could easily create a matching game out of them and have students classify them
as chemical or physical processes of weathering.
Upon the completion of the culminating activity I would like to put on
display everyones activities for others to see and use (if useable).