Abbie Andrews, Hannah Schaefer, Emily Cantley, and Rebecca Haley

EDU 234
Thematic Mini-Unit Design Project

Summer
ROCKS!
Unit Overview

This unit focuses on rock and roll and rocks! These activities will make the students summer fun,
interactive, and educational! It will consist of multiple activities in each subject area and even a fun field
trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Opening Introductory Activity

The opening activity will be an awesome dance party. The counselors should start by coming out dancing
to the song School of Rock and encouraging students to dance with them! Continue to play fun, and
appropriate songs from that same movie. After the dance party, counselors should remind students that
school can ROCK! Then they should talk about what the students will be doing over the course of the
week with both physical rocks and rock and roll!

Nine Learning Tasks

The nine learning tasks include : making erupting moon rocks (science), making their own songs with
garageband (technology), rock and play dough buildings (engineering), writing lyrics (literature), rock
climbing (physical movement), painting rocks (art), making instruments and music with rocks (music),
Bill Nye movie (other), and a field trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
● Science Exploration Activity: Making Erupting Moon Rocks
○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?):In this activity students
will be creating their own moon rocks, and then performing and experiment that will
eventually erupt the moon rocks they had just made. Students will be learning about outer
space, and what types of rocks are found on the moon! In this activity the children will
also be learning that with specific given materials they can either work together to create
something whole, or can react differently with the other materials and break it apart. The
activity will also improve fine motor.
○ In this activity these materials will be needed:
■ Baking soda
■ Black powdered tempera or black food coloring or black water colors
■ Silver and gold glitter
■ Vinegar
■ Squeezy bottles
■ Big bin/bucket
○ Procedures:
■ Step 1: Give a brief introduction about what they are going to be learning/doing
today. (basically go over the focus statement above in section A) Ask them
questions such as, “does anybody know anything about outer space?” “Does
anybody know what kind of things are on the moon, such as rocks?” etc.
■ Step 2: Inform the students that it is important that in this activity everybody has
their listening ears on because they are going to be making rocks out of
 materials/ingredients and it is important to mix them together correctly in order
for them to turn out pretty/for the experiment to work at the end.
■ Step 3: Set the materials out on the table. Make sure each material is there and
that there is one squeezy bottle with water in it and the other squeezy bottle with
vinegar.
■ Step 4: Have the students poor the baking soda, black powdered tempera/ black
food coloring/black water colors, and glitter into the bin/bucket.
■ Step 5: This next step is important. The water will SLOWLY be added to the
bin/bucket. The amount of water will depend on the amount of baking soda that
was added to the bin/bucket. You will only need enough water to make the
baking soda stick together. Too much water will dissolve the baking soda.
■ Step 6: The students will then use their hands to mix the materials together. The
moonrock dough is finished when pieces become formable and can hold a shape.
■ Step 7: Have each student make at least one moon rock by making the dough into
a rock shaped ball.
■ Step 8: Let the balls (rocks) of moon dough sit for a few hours for the rocks to
harden. This process will be faster if they are set out in the sun.
■ Step 9: Go outside to check on your moon rocks. If moon rocks have hardened
the students can either choose to keep their rock, or they can do the erupting
experiment.
■ Step 10: If the students choose to erupt their rocks, place the rocks back in the
bin/bucket.
■ Step 11: Squirt a little bit of vinegar onto the moon rock. Moon rock should then
begin erupting!
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning:Ask the students if they liked this
activity, and if so what was their favorite part? Ask the students what they may have
learned today from doing this activity? Which part did they not like so much, and why?
Were they surprised by how the moon rocks were able to be formed, harden, and erupt?
○ Sources used to create this activity: http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2014/06/moon-dough-
recipe-for-play.html , http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2014/05/erupting-moon-dust-prewriting-
activity.html

● Technology Activity: GarageBand

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?): the focus of the activity is
for students to learn how to use the app GarageBand on their own and have fun creating
music of their choice.
○ Materials List: computers/tablets and earphones
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader:
■ The leader needs to make sure GarageBand is downloaded on every device being
used.
■ The leader needs to band out technology and allow students to open GarageBand
■ The leader needs to give an example on the board or on their own tablet on how
to use GarageBand
■ Let students explore and create on GarageBand on their own
■ Answer any questions
 ■ Have students who want to share what they created!
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: having students share with partners
and whole group what they created during this time.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials
■ How to use GarageBand video for instructor: https://youtu.be/lIQTdZKHRrc

● Engineering Activity: Rock and Playdough Structural Buildings

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?):In this activity students
will either be building houses on their own or with a group made out of play dough and
rocks. Students will be learning how to correctly construct a mini building using limited
resources. They will have to use their problem solving skills to determine how they are
going to be able to keep their materials constructively sound. In this activity students will
also be expressing their creativity during this activity. Depending on the amount of rocks
that are provided and how many students are in this group, the students may or may not
be working in a group. If these students do work in groups, they will then be working on
teamwork and collaboration skills. Also be sure that no students are allergic to play
dough.
○ In this activity these materials will be needed:
■ Play Dough
■ Rocks
■ Table or any flat surface
○ Procedures:
■ Step 1: Get all the rocks and play dough set out on the table or flat surface.
■ Step 2: Give a brief introduction about what it is they are going to be
doing/learning. (Section A)
■ Step 3: The students will then be set free to make their own building made of
rocks and play dough
■ Step 4: Place either the play dough or the rock on the flat surface first, and then
just stack the materials on top according to how they would like their buildings to
look.
■ Step 5: Give the students tips that they may want to use the play dough like glue
and layer the rocks and play dough strategically.
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: Have the students reflect on their
buildings they have made. (What they found fun, difficult, interesting about the activity)
Have the students go around and look at each others buildings!
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials

● Math Activity
○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?) Students will use rocks as
manipulatives to solve basic math problems.
Materials List:
■ Rocks and a dry erase marker
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader:
 ■ Have students use the rocks as manipulatives for their numbers in the math
problem. They can write the operation, equals sign, and result in marker on their
desk.
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: Make sure students are using the
correct amount of rocks for each problem and getting the correct answers.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials
https://creativefamilyfun.net/rock-sums/

● Literature/Reading Activity: Write a Song

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?) Students will write their
own songs based on a topic they are given in groups to work on writing and coming up
with different words that go together to create an entertaining song!
○ Materials List
■ List of random appropriate topics such as nature, the sun, the moon, weather, or
random activities
■ Paper
■ Pencils
■ Example lyrics of appropriate songs
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader
■ Introduce the activity to the kids, explain how famous singers and rock stars have
to write songs and lyrics to perform.
■ Break the kids into small groups (group sizes depends on the amount of kids
participating).
■ Give each group a topic or theme that they will have to write a song about.
■ Have kids write lyrics and create a song to their assigned topic.
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: Have the groups perform their songs
for the other groups like a rock concert.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials: N/A

● Physical/Movement Activity: Rock Climbing

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?)
■ The students will learn that rock climbing can be a dangerous but fun sport. They
will learn that they have to be extremely careful while climbing rock walls even
though the “rocks” are bolted in. They will also learn the importance of watching
out for partners and trusting someone else to keep them safe.
○ Materials List:
■ rock climbing wall and tennis shoes.
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader:
■ The adult leader needs to clearly state that whole fun, rock climbing is not always
a joke because people can get hurt.
■ They need to instruct students to get a partner that they trust to help them if they
feel as if they need guidance while climbing the wall.
■ Then the instructor needs to explain and/or demonstrate how to climb the wall.
 ■ Then let the groups get in a line and try for themselves.
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning:
■ The leader needs to ask each student what their favorite part of rock climbing
was and what the hardest part was for them before they leave.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials
7. Craft/Creativity Activity: Painting with Rocks
○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?) Students will learn about
gravity through this lesson. They can also think critically about the best way to paint the
board. The process of painting with unconventional materials is called the BIG process.
○ Materials List:
1. A large piece of white paper
2. Paint
3. Rocks of many shapes and sizes
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader.
■ Take the large piece of paper outside (preferably) and tape it against the side of a
table. The paper should be at an incline for the paint to roll down. Have
cardboard at the bottom to serve as a landing pad for paint and rocks.
■ Have the kids practice different methods of rolling and tossing before using
paint.
■ Then, add paint the top of the paper and have the kids roll their rocks. Use
different colors to make the painting more interesting. Only use a few rocks at
once and add more paint as needed.
■ Then hang to dry!
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: Ask students what force causes the
rocks to roll, and what method what the best way to paint the paper.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials
https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/painting-with-rocks.html
https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/big-process-art-activities-for-kids.html

8. Music Activity: Make Your Own Instrument With Rocks

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?) Students will learn about
how different sized rocks will create different sounds when used to make different
instruments.
○ Materials List
■ Rocks, pebbles, stones, etc. (Rocks of many shapes and sizes kids can find
outside will work)
■ Recycled bottles, containers (pringles can, cookies container), cartons (milk,
juice, eggs), and plastic Easter eggs to fill
■ Tape and paper
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader
■ Introduce the activity to the kids
■ Have kids decide what instrument they want to make and have them each select
one of the materials listed above.
 ■ Have the kids go outside and find different rocks to use for their instrument (big,
small, rough, or smooth rocks).
■ Then, add the rocks collected to each of their instruments.
■ Tape the materials closed and place paper over any openings, then tape that down
so the rocks aren’t able to fly out.
■ After the instruments are finished, have the kids play them together and try out
the different sounds.
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning. Ask the kids what different sounds
they hear and why those sounds might be different. Ask if the different sizes and types of
rocks would make different sounds, or if the different containers changed the sounds.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials: N/A

9. Other Activity: Bill Nye Mini Movie

○ Focus statement for the activity (what will the students learn?) Kids will watch an
episode of Bill Nye about the rock cycle and learn some new things on rocks. This will
review what they already know and give them new information.
○ Materials List
■ Bill Nye Rock Cycle video (link attached)
■ Snacks (check for allergies or dietary restrictions): popcorn, rock candy or pop
rocks, pretzel rods (drumsticks), chex mix
■ Indoor tv or screen to show episode
○ Clearly state procedures for an adult leader
■ Explain to the kids what they are going to be watching and that it will review
what they already know as well as teach them some new information.
■ Set out the snacks that go along with the episode.
■ Have the kids get their snacks and sit down before the mini movie.
■ After all the kids have their spots and snacks, start the mini movie!
○ A summery/exit activity to gauge student learning: Ask the kids what new things they
learned from the Bill Nye video. Have a group discussion about it.
○ (As appropriate) source citations for found activities and materials: Video at
https://youtu.be/XIebFtd-t8Y

Culminating Field Trip

The culminating trio would be to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland! Just letting the kids
explore and learn for the day about rock and roll, the music, and the artist!