Rocks and Minerals

1. Rocks and Minerals By: Mrs. Vicino

2. Introduction This cyber lesson was developed to support our third grade rocks and minerals unit. It follows the National Geographic Reading Expeditions text Rocks and Minerals. The activities in this cyber lesson will help you to answer the following questions: -What is the difference between rocks and minerals? -How can we identify the type of rock or mineral something is? -What do bikes, jets, and surgery have to do with rocks and minerals?

3. Materials • Pencil • Science Notebook • Computer with internet access • Copy of Rocks and Minerals by National Geographic Reading Expeditions

4. Before Reading • Preview Text- • In your science notebook make a double entry journal. On one side you will write something that you notice in the text as you flip through the pages, and other side you will write what you’re wondering (I notice/ I wonder chart). Your journal should look like this: You should make at least 5 entries. You can print a copy of the I Notice/ I Wonder chart and glue it in your notebook. Click here for a blank chart.

5. Before Reading • Web- • Visit two links The Rocks and Minerals Kids Page (Click here) • In your science notebook make a web (on a new page) of the word rocks. Write at least 6 or more ideas that you learned about rocks on the web. It should look like this: Or click here for a printable web to glue into your notebook • Purpose- • Write two things you want to find out about as you read this book in your science notebook. Rocks Check the Rubric

6. During Reading We have been working on determining what’s important while we read. In this text there are three chapters. Write the title of each chapter on a separate page in your notebook. Your job is to write the main idea and three or more important details for each of the chapters. You can also write your thoughts at the bottom of the page. For an example of what each page should look like, click here.

7. After Reading • Go back to the web you made before reading. Add new knowledge bubbles by using a colored pencil to write your new ideas. • Write a step by step recipe that instructs someone on how to test to find the type of mineral a sample is. Remember that a recipe includes ingredients (tools you’ll need) and steps.

8. Beyond Reading • Help Rex solve the mystery of the golden cube. Click here to link to the website. You need to test the sample help you figure out if it is gold or not. Before you click on “I’m done testing!” you need to write a letter to Rex in your science notebook telling him what you think the sample is by giving three or more reasons that support your thinking.

9. Rubric Before Reading

10. Teacher Page • This is intended to be a part of a rocks and minerals unit for third grade students. Each student should have a copy of the text as well as a science notebook. • This cyber lesson can be done at any point in the unit, but will work best when students have limited knowledge about how rocks form. I usually start the unit with rocks and then move into minerals because they are more complex.

11. Credits • National Park Service. (March 5, 2009) Rocks and Minerals for Kids. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from: http://www.nps.gov/brca/forkids/rocksandmineralskidspage.htm • Phelan, Glen. (2004) Rocks and Minerals. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. • The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. (2000) Geo Mysteries. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from: http://www.nps.gov/brca/forkids/rocksandmineralskidspage.htm