Lithosphere

 

 

County Unit Overview

Handout - County Overview Lithosphere

 

This document was created by the county as an overview of the content to be covered in the Lithosphre unit that can be shared with parents.  It presents essential content in parent friendly language, it includes a list of required vocabulary, and it highlights where the content that our kids are expected to master stands in the sequence of learning for students.  It can be useful as a guide for teachers -- both of sixth grade science and those who wish to integrate sixth grade science content into their curricula.  

 

 

I Can Statements 

Lithosphere - I Can Statements

 

This document includes a list of the objectives that students will be expected to master in their study of the lithosphere.  It can be used as a checklist by teachers to guide their instruction and as a tracking sheet for parents and students to monitor progress towards mastery.

 

 

Digital Resources

 

Below, you can find a list of the digital resources created by members of our learning team that can be used to facilitate formative assessment and/or the reteaching of essential concepts during your lithosphere unit.

 

Earth's Layers:

 

Socrative Quiz - Layers of the Earth

SOC-17026913

 

This Socrative quiz covers the basics of the layers of the earth.  It asks students to name the layer of the earth that is described in each question.  It covers all of the essential details that we teach about each of the layers of the earth in our lessons.  If you want to use it with your students AND see their responses, you will need to use the Share Code above to create your own copy of the assessment.  

 

 

Zaption: Plate Tectonics

http://zapt.io/tdyrkrhm

 

This short Zaption video tour pairs a Minute Physics video on plate tectonics with six embedded reflection questions.  It can be used as preteaching during a begin and branch activity or as remediation after an assessment.  If you want to use it with your students AND see their responses to the embedded questions, you will need to create a copy of this tour.

 

 

Socrative Quiz: Plate Tectonics

Share code: 15269363

 

This Socrative quiz covers the basics of plate tectonics.  It is designed to be used as a Space Race activity.  Each question is paired with a detailed explanation that includes additional review information as well.  If you want to use it with your students AND see their responses, you will need to use the Share Code above to create your own copy of the assessment.  

 

 

Socrative Quiz: Earthquakes and Rock Types

Share code: 15422431

 

This Socrative quiz covers the basics of earthquakes and rock types.  It is designed to be used as a Space Race activity.  Each question is paired with a detailed explanation that includes additional review information as well.  If you want to use it with your students AND see their responses, you will need to use the Share Code above to create your own copy of the assessment.  

 

 

 

Potential Lessons

 

 

Earth's Layers & Continental Drift

 

Continents Adrift Viewing Guide and Plate Boundary Notes

Viewing Guide - Contintents Adrift

Handout - Plate Boundary Notes BLANK

Handout - Plate Boundary Notes

 

These handouts can be used along with the Continents Adrift video found in Discovery Education.  They are designed to help students practice with the concepts of Pangaea, plate tectonics, and the different types of plate boundaries found between the tectonic plates.

 

 

The Pangaea Pop Up

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-pangaea-pop-up-michael-molina

 

This Ted Ed lesson pairs a remarkable video that describes Pangaea and continental drift with a series of review questions, additional videos, related articles, and discussion questions.  It could make for a great stand alone lesson or a review activity that students could work on at home.  It's remarkable and well aligned with everything that we teach.

 

 

Layers of the Earth Egg Lab

Handout_LayersoftheEarthEGGLab.doc

Exemplar - Egg Earth Comparisons

 

Many of the objects scientists study, like planets or atoms, are too big or too small to work with.  To solve this problem, scientists build scale models.  Different kinds of scale models serve different purposes.  Geologists build scale models to study the earth.  In this activity, you will use an egg as a scale model for the Earth in order to learn more about some of the Earth's features.  The Exemplar document contains a sample of student work comparing the egg to the earth that can be used to show students what deep thinking around a metaphor looks like in action.

 

 

 

Reading - Structure Based on Composition

Structure Based on Composition

Reading Guide

 

This reading from Discovery Education covers the basic differences and core characteristics of the different layers of the earth.  It can be used as a companion to the information found on pages B 69-73 in our textbooks.  The reading guide beneath it is designed to be a note-taking guide.  Students can be asked to fill it out and turn it in for a grade.  

 

 

 

 

Continental Drift & Plate Techtonics WebQuest

Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics Web Quest.doc

 

Continental Drift, Convection Currents, Plate Techtonics, The Ring of Fire, The San Andreas Fault and the inter-connectivity of these topics are all covered by this activity.  There are "Teacher Checks" at the end of each section.  I found this made grading easier. I recommend at least two days of computer lab time.  

 

 

After The WebQuest Activity

After Web Quest Activity.docx

 

This activity can be given out to those students who finish the webquest early.  It has links to different animations, manipulatives, games and video clips related to Continental Drift.  Each link has directions and information for the students to record or questions to answer.  This also made a great additional review activity.

 

 

 

 

 

Earthquakes & Volcanoes

 

Types of Volcanoes PowerPoint

Volcano Powerpoint

Student Note Handout

Student Note Key

 

This is a PowerPoint presentation that lists the three basic types of volcanoes.  There is also a fill in the blank handout that kids can use when taking notes.  Finally, there is a teacher key that can be used to grade the notes.  Consider using the handout as a quick formative grade or a study guide.  

 

Earthquake Notes

Earthquake Powerpoint

Student Note Handout

Student Note Teacher's Key

 

This is a PowerPoint presentation on Earthquakes. There is also a fill in the blank handout that kids can use when taking notes.  Finally, there is a teacher key that can be used to grade the notes.  Consider using the handout as a quick formative grade or a study guide.  

 

Locating The Epicenter of an Earthquake

Locating The Epicenter of An Earthquake UPDATED.docx

Locating The Epicenter of An Earthquake UPDATED 2015.docx

Epicenter.pptx

 

This activity is good for showing students how to locate the epicenter of an earthquake and also help show the difference between an epicenter (the place on the map) and the focus (the point of origin) of an earthquake.  The PowerPoint is an example to show students ahead of time so they have an idea of what they will be doing.

Materials Needed / group:

Red, Blue & Green colored pencil

Compass (to draw circles, not locate magnetic North)

 

Prediction V. Prevention

Prediction or Prevention.doc

 

Divide students into groups, each group will get one of two scenarios.  The groups are made up of a team of geologists that has opposing views on earthquakes (Prediction V. Prevention).  Each group is given background info on their position and questions to think out and answer based on their beliefs.  I then match opposing groups together so they can debate their side of the issue and rotate so that each group has the chance to debate each opposing group.  Then I have all of the groups with similar views get together to create a final argument based on the best positions from each group and what they observed from the other teams during the initial debates.  Then each side pics three moderators to go head to head on the topic of Prediction V. Prevention.  Also, I allow each team to choose a moderator ask questions to the opposing group.   

 

 

Earthquake Reading - Keep, Junk Cloud

EQ - Keep, Junk Cloud

 

In 2015, we experimented with a nonfiction reading strategy called "Keep, Junk, Cloud."  This strategy requires students to read and annotate a selection individually, looking specifically for vocabulary words that can be used to answer a key question or to complete an essential task.  Then, students meet with partners and sort their vocabulary into three categories -- words to keep to complete the required task, words to junk because they won't help to complete the required task, and words to store in the cloud because they aren't sure whether or not the words will be helpful or not.  This handout is a reading selection on earthquakes that can be used in a Keep, Junk, Cloud activity.  

 

 

 

Rocks & Rock Cycle

 

Rock Cycle Game

Rock Cycle Game-1.doc

 

In this activity, students learn more about how rocks move through the rock cycle.  While all station materials are included in these documents, teachers will need to find our school's rock collections to use with this activity. 

 

 

Rock Cycle Vocabulary Assessment

Handout - Rock Cycle Skills Check

This document contains a study guide and a mini-assessment that can be used to assess what students know about the rock cycle. 

 

Journey through the rock cycle-Carla Calcite. 

Carla Calcite directions.

Carla Calcite story and picture

This story show Carla's metamorphosis into different kinds of rock.  The directions are simple and the pictures all fit on one page or into a booklet.   

 

 

Rock Cycle Vocabulary Assessment Retest

Retest - Rock Cycle Vocabulary

 

This handout contains another version of the rock cycle vocabulary assessment that can be used as a retest. 

 

Rock Cycle Information Cards

Rock Cycle Information Cards

 

This file contains a student activity to create information cards for each of the types of rock.  It includes instructions, model of layout and a grading rubric.

 

Rock Classification Key
Rock Classification key

This is the worksheet from the Textbook Chapter 3 located on page A102-103.  This chart really helps you identify rocks and put them in the right category.  

 

Types of Rock Characteristic Activity

Types of Rock Characteristic Activity  

 

This activity includes a list of characteristics for each rock type and large title cards for each type.  Suggested uses include having sets for groups which includes a packet of the characteristics cutout out.  Students can then sort the cards by type.  This can also be used as a whole group activity where each child is provided with a characteristic and the title cards are posted around the room.  Students are then asked to move to the title card that matches their characteristic.  

 

 

Keep, Junk Cloud - Types of Rocks

ToR - Keep, Junk, Cloud

 

In 2015, we experimented with a nonfiction reading strategy called "Keep, Junk, Cloud."  This strategy requires students to read and annotate a selection individually, looking specifically for vocabulary words that can be used to answer a key question or to complete an essential task.  Then, students meet with partners and sort their vocabulary into three categories -- words to keep to complete the required task, words to junk because they won't help to complete the required task, and words to store in the cloud because they aren't sure whether or not the words will be helpful or not.  This handout is a reading selection on the types of rocks that can be used in a Keep, Junk, Cloud activity.  

 

Baby Minerals
Baby Minerals worksheet

This file contains a worksheet on all the minerals a baby uses to stay alive throughout its life. And how many minerals it take each American to live each year.

 

Sustainable Mining Video

http://www.cat.com/groundrules

 

This link connects to a 20 minute video put togther by the Caterpillar company that is designed to introduce students to the nature of sustainable mining today.  It is an engaging video that talks about everything ranging from training locals in remote locations to be miners to how companies determine where mines should be built.  There are also a great collection of lessons on mining---with tons of interesting hands on activities---available here.   

 

Finally, students can use the viewing guide below to track their thinking while watching the video:

 

Viewing Guide - Ground Rules Mining Video

 

  

 

Rescued:  The Chilean Miner Story

Viewing Guide - Chilean Miners Video

 

In the fall of 2010, a group of Chilean miners was trapped underground for months after a major mine collapse.  United Streaming has a really interesting video detailing the event from the beginning to the rescue.  It's titled Rescued: The Chilean Mine Story and can be used to start conversations with students about mining as an industry.  While it is often good work for people living in poor communities, it is also dangerous work, too.  Viewing guide can be used to guide student thinking as they watch this video.

 

 

The Prospectors - Weather Channel Reality Series

http://www.weather.com/tv/shows/prospectors

 

One of the key outcomes in this unit is helping students to understand that some minerals are valuable and other minerals are not.  It is also important to introduce students to the process used for identifying minerals.  Finally, it is important for students to understand that valuable minerals weren't distributed evenly around the crust when the earth was forming.  A great way to teach those lessons is to introduce students to The Prospectors -- a reality show on The Weather Channel.  The Prospectors highlights several different groups of people in Colorado that scour the mountains looking for valuable mineral deposits.  In every episode, viewers can see how minerals are discovered and identified.  This link connects to the show's main page on the Weather Channel site -- and while there are no full video episodes posted here, there are several short videos that can serve as an introduction to the show.  

 

 

 

Rocks Lessons from CMAPP

CMAPP Rocks and Minerals Lessons

 

This PDF includes rock and rock cycle lessons from CMAPP that align with the I Can Statements that we've chosen to focus on for this unit. 

 

 

Minerals Lessons from CMAPP

Science_CMAPP_MineralsLessons.pdf

 

This PDF includes minerals lessons from CMAPP that align with the I Can Statements that we've chosen to focus on for this unit. 

 

Rock Walk

Rock Walk.docx 

 

Groups of three seemed to work better than groups of four.  I gave them the rules that: they must be within 15ft of their group members and though two groups may be near one another; however, they may not band together to form a super group.  I also told students that it is important to make as little impact on the environment as possible.  So, rocks and other objects should be returned to where they were found ... not thrown.    

 

 

 

 

 

Soil 

 

Soil Texture Flowchart

Handout - Soil Texture Flowchart

 

One of the activities in the teacher resource materials has students work through a flowchart to determine the type of soil included in a soil sample.  This handout is a digital copy of that flowchart.

 

 

Soil Reading Guides;Handouts - Soil Reading Guides

 

Soil Videos - from Smithsonian

Chef's Challenge :  Taking on the format of a TV chef challenge two competitors use different factors to create two differing soil types  

Matters of Life and Death:  In the format of a crime scene investigation students learn of soil properties and the process of decay.

Both videos are very informative and catch students attention with the unique formats.  Students can complete a 3-2-1 viewing activity to process what they are learning. 

3 List three important facts from the video

2 List two points that you found most interesting from the video

1 Write one question that you would like to know more about from the video

 

This handout contains a packet of soil handouts that can be used as reading guides for the soil lessons in the textbook.  They can make good study guides and/or sub plans. 

 

 

Apple demonstration-soil

visual representation of soil-apple slices

Visualize the minerals of the earth by slicing up the apples for different usable minerals. 

 

 

Decomposition of a pig video (Warning, VERY GRAPHIC)

Decomposition of a pig

This video (YouTube) shows a decomposition of a pig for about 6 minutes. I forwarded a little at a time. At the end, the maggots are shown finishing it up.  Great movie to show what's in the soil. My kids loved it! 

 

 

Soil OWI Sample

Exemplar - Soil OWI Activity

 

At the beginning of his soil unit, Bill has his students do the Soil Composition activity on page A-122 of the textbook, which involves comparing and contrasting two different soil samples.  While working on this activity, students complete an OWI sheet.  OWIs ask students to create written observations of what they see during an activity, to write wonder questions about the topic of study, and then to make inferences about their wonder questions. 

 

This document is a sample of a solid student OWI.  It can be used to help teachers, parents and students to understand just what an OWI is supposed to look like in action. 

 

 

Soil Lab Exemplar

Exemplar - Soil Lab

 

One of the activities that Bill Ferriter does with students in class is the soil testing activity on pages A 130-131 in the science textbook.  Students are required to create a data table and to answer the four conclusion questions on page A-131.  This handout is an exemplar of excellent work.  It can be used by teachers, parents and students to judge the quality of student work. 

 

 

 

 

 

Websites to Support the Lithosphere Unit

 

Plate Boundary Animations

http://bit.ly/oiitTh

 

While simple, the animations on this website may help students to imagine what's happening at each type of tectonic plate boundary.

 

 

Diigo Collection

http://www.diigo.com/tag/salem6sci_litho 

 

This link connects to the lithosphere resource collection that Bill Ferriter is building in Diigo.