Gr.

3 Science – Rocks and Minerals

Rationale:
Students learn by doing – therefore it is important that lessons be hands-on. The Rocks and Minerals unit provides tons of
opportunity for students to “do” science. Students will work with rocks and minerals to identify and list properties, do
experiments to test methods of erosion, examine soil for its different components, conduct research, etc.
Rather than having work sheets or tests that that assess students’ ability to remember, a photo journal assignment spans
throughout the unit to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge as they reflect on the activities we do in class.
Although the majority of the assessment will come from the photo journal, paper assignments within the Science Notebook
are interactive! When students are excited about learning they are more engaged and will be more successful!

Differentiation:
- All hand-outs have been written using easy to read vocabulary.
- Journal prompts have been pre-written for some students to fill in the blanks
- Many activities are completed in groups so students are able to help each other.
- Hands on activities provide a concrete way for students to experience information.
Unit Overview:
Skills
General Learner Expectations:
3-1: Investigate the nature of things, demonstrating purposeful action that leads to observations and inferences.
3-2: Identify patterns and order objects and events studied; and with guidance, record observations, using pictures, words
and charts; and make predictions and generalizations, based on observations.
Specific Learner Expectations:
o Focus
o Ask questions that lead to exploration and investigation.
o Identify one or more possible answers to questions by stating predictions or hypotheses.
o Explore and Investigate
o Identify, with guidance, procedures to be followed in finding answers to given questions.
o Carry out procedures developed by themselves or identified by others.
o Identify materials and how they are used.
o Work independently or with others to carry out the identified procedures.
o Identify, with guidance, sources of information and ideas from those sources. Sources may include library,
classroom, community, and computer-based sources.
o Reflect and Interpret

Attitudes:
General Learner Expectations:
3-4: Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of science in responsible ways.
Specific Learner Expectations:
o Curiosity
o A willingness to base their conclusions and actions on the evidence of their own experiences.
o Respect for living things and environments, and commitment for their care.

Topic A:
GLO’s:
o 3-5: Demonstrate knowledge of materials that compromise Earth’s crust and demonstrate skills in classifying these
materials.

SLO’s:
o 1.Compare samples of rock – identify similarities and differences.
o 2. Identify sample rocks that match a given property.
o 3. Describe and classify rocks/minerals based on properties.
o 4. Recognize that rocks are composed of different materials; describe some components
o 5. Recognize and describe the various components within a sample of soil.
o 6. Describe ways in which rocks break down to become soil and demonstrate one or more of these ways.
 o 7. Describe some common uses of rocks and minerals; identify examples of those uses within the school, home or
local community.

Differentiation:
Many of the activities will be done as a class which removes the need to be reading at certain level. Worksheet will be
differentiated where possible to include easier to understand vocabulary and have additional pictures. In science it is
important that students do understand and use correct terminology.
Students who require a scribe will be allowed to use a scribe or have word written on whiteboard to be copied down.

Learning Assessment
Objectives Classification Soil Flip Book Rocks &
Photo Frayer Rock Uses Creating
Title Tables + + Soil Minerals
Journals Models Chart Crystals
Factile Quiz Investigation Booklet
Formative/ Summative Formative Formative Summative Formative Formative Formative
Summative &
Summative
3-5.1 X X X
3-5.2 X X X
3-5.5 X X X X
3-5.4 X X X X
3-5.5 X X X
3-5.6 X X X
3-5.7 X X X
 Unit Plan

Grade Level: Grade 3 Subject: Science – Rocks & Minerals

Date: March 1 – April 15, 2021 Teacher: Miss Lacey Rose

Date to
GLO’s SLO’s Key Questions/Concepts Learning Activities Resources Assessment
Teach
March 1/21 3-5: Demonstrate 3. Describe and What is a rock? What types of - KWL Chart Types of Rocks Formative:
knowledge of classify rocks are there? How do - Presentation on the rock KWL Chart, Starburst
materials that rocks/minerals rocks form? cycle + types of rocks Starburst Activity write-up (Science
compromise based on properties - Starburst STEM activity Booklet)
Earth’s crust and I can explain the rock cycle. Rock Cycle Summative:
demonstrate skills N/A
in classifying these
materials.

March 2/21 3-5: Demonstrate 3. Describe and What are the three types of - Photo journals à explain Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of classify rocks? How are the similar? the Starburst activity, label Assessment à Observations/
materials that rocks/minerals Different? the 3 types of rocks, briefly located in log book discussions
compromise based on properties explain how each is formed.
Earth’s crust and I can identify the 3 rock Summative:
demonstrate skills types. Photo Journal
in classifying these
materials.

March 4/21 3-5: Demonstrate 1.Compare samples What are properties? What - Layers of the Earth What is a “property”? Formative:
knowledge of of rock – identify are some different properties - Properties presentation à Layers of the Earth
materials that similarities and of minerals? what is a property, iSpy iSpy Slides (Google Table
compromise differences. game, properties of rocks Slides)
Earth’s crust and 2. Identify sample I can identify properties of Summative:
demonstrate skills rocks that match a minerals. Layers of the Earth N/A
in classifying these given property. handout
materials.
March 8/21 3-5: Demonstrate 2. Identify sample What are some different - Mineral testing centres pt 1 Rock Samples + Formative:
knowledge of rocks that match a properties of minerals? How -Frayer model assessment - Edmonton Public Classification tables,
materials that given property. can I test properties? minerals Schools Master 8a Frayer Model
compromise 3.Descibe and assessment
Earth’s crust and classify I can test the properties of
demonstrate skills rocks/minerals minerals. Summative:
in classifying these based on N/A
materials. properties.

March 9/21 3-5: Demonstrate 3. Describe and What are some different - Photo journals à explain Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of classify properties of rocks? How can what is happening in the Assessment à Discussions with
materials that rocks/minerals I test properties? photo, list 3 different ways located in log book students
compromise based on properties to classify rocks & minerals
Earth’s crust and I identify rocks based on (with an example), explain Summative:
demonstrate skills properties. the purpose of testing. Photo Journal
in classifying these
materials.

March 11/21 3-5: Demonstrate 2. Identify sample What are some different - Mineral testing centres Mineral Samples + Formative:
knowledge of rocks that match a properties of rocks? How can pt21 Edmonton Public Classification tables
materials that given property. I test properties? Schools Master 7a
compromise 3.Descibe and Summative:
Earth’s crust and classify I can test the properties of N/A/
demonstrate skills rocks/minerals rocks.
in classifying these based on
materials. properties.

March 15/21 3-5: Demonstrate 3. Describe and What are some different - Rock testing centres pt.1 Mineral Samples + Formative:
knowledge of classify properties of rocks? How can - Frayer model assessment – Edmonton Public Classification tables,
materials that rocks/minerals I test properties? What is the rocks Schools Master 7a Frayer Model
compromise based on properties difference between a rock assessment
Earth’s crust and and a mineral? Frayer Model
demonstrate skills Template Summative:
in classifying these I can identify rocks based on N/A
materials. properties.
March 16/21 3-5: Demonstrate 3. Describe and What is the difference - Photo journal à explain Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of classify between a rock and a what is happening in the Assessment à Discussions with
materials that rocks/minerals mineral? photo, what is the located in log book students
compromise based on properties difference between a rock
Earth’s crust and I can explain the difference and a mineral? Choose 1 Summative:
demonstrate skills between a rock and a rock/mineral and tell me Photo Journal
in classifying these mineral. about it’s properties.
materials. - Factile Quiz

March 22/21 3-5: Demonstrate 4. Recognize that What are the different - Presentation on Crystal experiment Formative:
knowledge of rocks are components of a rock? How components of rocks Crystal observation
materials that composed of can I describe the - Making crystals activity Examining Rocks sheet
compromise different materials; components? Comparison
Earth’s crust and describe some Summative:
demonstrate skills components I can describe the N/A
in classifying these appearance of a rock to the
materials. unaided and aided eye.

March 23/21 3-5: Demonstrate 4. Recognize that What are the different - Photo journals à what is Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of rocks are components of a rock? How happening in the photo, Assessment à Student Discussions
materials that composed of can I describe the How does looking at a rock located in log
compromise different materials; components? differ when using a Summative:
Earth’s crust and describe some magnifying glass (draw a Photo Journal
demonstrate skills components I can describe the picture to help explain)
in classifying these appearance of a rock to the
materials. unaided and aided eye.

March 25/21 3-5: Demonstrate 7.Describe some How are rocks and minerals - Common uses of Rock/mineral uses Formative:
knowledge of common uses of used in everyday life? How rocks/minerals (use laptops) table Observations/
materials that rocks and minerals. were rocks and minerals -Review as a class discussions
compromise used? Website links on
Earth’s crust and Teacher Page. Summative:
demonstrate skills I can research the common Uses of Rocks
in classifying these uses of rocks/minerals. Worksheet
materials.
March 29/21 3-5: Demonstrate 5. Recognize Are there different types of - Components of soils Soil samples Formative:
knowledge of various soil? What are the different (definitions) and types of Soil Investigation
materials that components of soil. components of soils? soils Soil Investigation Booklet
compromise - Soil excavation and (Saved under PSIII
Earth’s crust and I can analyze a soil sample analysis folder) Summative:
demonstrate skills and identify its properties. N/A
in classifying these
materials.

March 30/21 3-5: Demonstrate 5. Recognize Are there different types of - Photo journals à what is Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of various soil? What are the different happening in the photo, Assessment à Student discussions
materials that components of soil. components of soils? Are what are the layers of soil? located in log book
compromise some soils better than others? Which type of soil is best for Summative:
Earth’s crust and growing? Why is soil Photo Journal
demonstrate skills I can explain the difference important?
in classifying these between soil samples.
materials.

April 1/21 3-5: Demonstrate 5. Recognize What are the different layers - Create interactive soil flip Flip Book Pages (In Formative:
knowledge of various of soil found on Earth? What book Rocks & Minerals Soil flipbook
materials that components of soil. are the different components resource binder)
compromise 6. Describe ways in of soil? Summative:
Earth’s crust and which rocks break Layers of Soil N/A
demonstrate skills down and become
in classifying these soil. I can identify the main layers Brain Pop. Jr Video
materials. of soil.

April 13/21 3-5: Demonstrate 6. Describe ways in How do rocks break down? - How rocks break down Weathering Crash Formative:
knowledge of which rocks break What is the difference (weathering, erosion, etc). Course Student discussion
materials that down and become between chemical and - Experiment
compromise soil. mechanical erosion? Edmonton Public Summative:
Earth’s crust and Schools Doc. Rocks & Minerals
demonstrate skills I can explain how rocks Booklet – Erosion
in classifying these break down. worksheet
materials.
April 15/21 3-5: Demonstrate 6. Describe ways in How do rocks break down? - Experiment cont’d + final Photo Journals Formative:
knowledge of which rocks break What is the difference journal entry à what is Assessment à Student discussions
materials that down and become between chemical and happening in the photo? located in log
compromise soil. mechanical erosion? Explain 1 example of Summative:
Earth’s crust and mechanical weathering Photo Journal
demonstrate skills I can explain how rocks and 1 example of chemical KWL Chart – What we
in classifying these break down. weathering. leanred
materials.