Rock Cycle Lesson Plan

Teacher Education Lesson Plan Template
Teacher: Colleen Rowan
Date: 2/8 2/12
Title of Lesson: The Rock Cycle
Cooperating Teacher: Jaime Mosquera
Core Components
Subject, Content Area, or Topic
4th Grade Science: The rock cycle
Student Population
25 students, 7 gifted, 1 ELL student

Learning Objectives
Students will be able to differentiate between the three rock types and be able to identify the processes of the
rock cycle.
Virginia Essential Knowledge and Skills (SOL)
5.7
The student will investigate and understand how Earths surface is constantly changing. Key
concepts include
a) identification of rock types;
b) the rock cycle and how transformations between rocks occur;
Materials/Resources
Rock kit with samples of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Scientist rock observation chart, Magnifying glasses, Rock cycle study notes
Interactive website: http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/ , Ipads
Premade interactive quiz from kahoot https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/cfab0ef9-8638-4c67-b411-0afed95391bb
Rock list with descriptions, Blank posters, Markers, glue
High Yield Instructional Strategies Used (Marzano, 2001)

Check if Used
Strategy
Return
Identifying Similarities & Differences
45%
Summarizing & Note Taking
34%
Reinforcing Efforts & Providing Recognition
29%
Homework & Practice
28%
Nonlinguistic Representations
27%
Cooperative Learning
23%
Setting Goals & Providing Feedback
23%
Generating & Testing Hypothesis

23%
Questions, Cues, & Advanced Organizers

22%
DOES YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL INPUT & MODELING YIELD THE POSITIVE
RETURNS YOU WANT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?
Check if Used Strategy
Return
Teach Others/Immediate Use of Learning

95%
Practice by Doing
75%
Discussion
50%
Demonstration
30%
Audio Visual
20%
Reading
10%
Lecture
05%
Time
(min.)
2/8
5 min
Process Components
ENGAGE
Students will watch We will ROCK you introductory rock cycle music video. This
song/video will set up the lesson and give students some idea of how rocks are formed.
State the Objectives (grade-level terms)
You are going to be able to identify the three different rock types by their characteristics
and how they are formed.
2/8
30 min
2/9
40 min
2/10
40 min
2/11
30 min
EXPLORE
First students will participate in group discussions to answer the following questions
What do scientists do? (make observations) Why do scientists make observations? (To
learn about the world) After scientists make observations what do they do? (record data)
Teacher will then explain to students that they will be scienctists by making observations
and recording data of rocks. Students will observe rock samples at their table and use
their scientist rock observation chart to list each rocks characteristics and make
predictions on how the rock was formed. Students will each complete their own
observation chart but will discuss their observations and predictions with the other
students at their table.
EXPLAIN
The teacher will use the interactive rock cycle website:
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/ to explain how each type of rock is formed.
The teacher will also show video demonstrations of each rock type being formed. As the
teacher explains students will begin to fill out their study notes.
Then the teacher will explain the various characteristics of each rock type and use
examples of the rocks the students previously observed to demonstrate these
characteristics. Students can see if their predictions for how each rock was formed were
correct and match the characteristics they observed to the characteristics of the three rock
types.
Then students will participate in a chalk talk activity in which students engage in silent
conversations by writing words and phrases about the rock cycle, igneous rocks,
sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks on posters around the room.
ELABORATE
First the teacher will explain how scientists classify things. Students will participate in a
discussion about classifying. Then students will then use their knowledge of rocks and the
rock cycle to classify different rocks according to their characteristics. Students will cut out
descriptions and names of rocks and make inferences about what type of rock it is.
Students will then organize the rocks by their type on a poster.
EVALUATE
Students will participate in an interactive quiz/game using ipads to select their answers.
Quiz will be launched from kahoot.it Students will also be formally assessed on Feb 18th
Closure
Teacher will ask students where they think they can find each type of rock and ask
students to look for examples of rock types outside when they go home.
Differentiation Strategies (enrichment, accommodations, remediation, or by learning style).

This lesson contains elements that accommodate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Since
the ELL student will not be able to read the rock descriptions or write responses, I have included
nonverbal elements throughout the lesson. She will also be grouped with other students who have
worked well with her in the past.

Rock Cycle Lesson Plan

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Rock Cycle Lesson Plan

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Teacher Education Lesson Plan Template

Teacher: Colleen Rowan

Date: 2/8 2/12

Title of Lesson: The Rock Cycle

Cooperating Teacher: Jaime Mosquera

25 students, 7 gifted, 1 ELL student

High Yield Instructional Strategies Used (Marzano, 2001)

Generating & Testing Hypothesis

Questions, Cues, & Advanced Organizers

Teach Others/Immediate Use of Learning

Differentiation Strategies (enrichment, accommodations, remediation, or by learning style).

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