English Blast Unit of Inquiry Lesson Plan
Unit of Inquiry Name: ROCKS AND MINERALS
Unit Contributed by: Lynda
Duration of Unit (in classroom hours): 3 with optional outing to examine rock
layers in your community.
Target Age Group (in years): 5 - 7
Basic Goals and Objectives:
To make students aware of the different kinds of rocks around them.
To introduce 3 kinds of rocks: metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary.
To learn examples of each kind of rock.
Reference Materials Recommended (texts, workbooks, picture books,
maps, videos, websites, audio materials, etc.):
Investigating Science: Rocks and Minerals, Jan Brennan and Mary Sanford, Education Center,
2000.  Rocks and Fossils, Chris Pellant, Kingfisher, 2003. Interfact Reference: Earth,
Two-Can Publishing, 2000.  Usborne Rocks and Minerals, Alan Woolley, Scholastic, 1996.  
Scholastic Science Readers: Rocks and Minerals, Edward R. Ricciuti, Scholastic, 1996.
 *See Rock and Mineral Hunt Worksheet
Additional Notes, Suggestions or Comments about the Unit:
Week 1
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Students show their rock and tell its story.
  2. Show postcards (pictures) of famous rock tourist sites.  e.g. Uluru, Mt. Fuji, Pike's
    Peak   Ask students why they think these rocks are famous.
  3. Introduce the 3 different kinds of rocks: metamorphic, igneous, sedimentary.  Have
    students copy words into workbooks.  Show examples of each kind of rock.  See
    References above for assistance in explaining and showing samples.
  4. Pass out copies of experiments to be done at home for reports on Week 3.
Homework: Begin experiments.
Week 2
Materials Required:
  1. Rock cycle experiment materials.
  2. Rock and Mineral Hunt Worksheet. Adapt according to rock samples available in the
    group.
  3. Samples of rocks for hunt.  (Gather samples from jewelry boxes and rock collections
    of members of the group.)
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Leader demonstrates Rock Cycle Experiment and simulates the change of metamorphic
    rock to sedimentary to igneous and back again.  See p. 22 Investigating Science: Rocks
    and Minerals or simulation experiment using chocolate chips, hot water and ice cubes.
  2. Do Rock and Mineral Hunt.  Students work with parents to match the written
    descriptions on the worksheet with the samples displayed around the room.
Homework:
  1. Write about a rock or mineral that you like.  Tell why you like it.
  2. Continue with rock experiments and bring results for following class.
Week 3
Materials Required:
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Students share stories from journal.
  2. Students bring results or examples of their experiments to class and explain the
    experiment and the results.  Optional: Make plans for an outing to view rock layers in
    your community.
Homework:
Materials Required:  
  1. Advance preparation: Students need to bring a rock to class for show and tell.
  2. Postcards or pictures of famous rock tourist sites
  3. Copies of experiments to be done at home for reports on Week 3. See Investigating
    Science: Rocks and Minerals for age appropriate experiments.
ENGLISH BLAST!