ROCK-N-ART

Learning Targets

“I Can…”

• Identify the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
• Classify the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
• Perform and create a monologue/riddle describing the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
• Compare and contrast the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

Essential Questions

• What are rocks?
• How are the 3 types of rocks formed?
• How are the 3 types of rocks alike and different?

Materials

Chart paper; samples of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; Blank 3-Column Chart and Word Arts Examples (see Downloads); magnifiers; colored construction paper; markers; document camera

Activating Strategy (5-10 min)

• Each table/group will be given 3 samples/examples of rocks
• Using a Blank 3-Column Chart, the groups will discuss and fill in their chart writing down their observations

*Students should note the attributes in size, texture, color, hardness, softness, etc. They should be able to identify all 3 rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The students are also to explain how each rock is created in a different manner than the others. (See Downloads for the Blank 3-Column Chart.)

• Each group shares their observations with the rest of the class. The teacher could compile the group observations into one large 3 column chart paper.

Main Activity

Part 1:

• Each small group is asked to create a riddle for an assigned rock (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic).
• Teacher demonstrates and shares an example of a rock riddle: I am smooth to the touch. I am round in size and gray in color. Where you may find me is in the river. What type of rock am I?

Part 2:

• Each small group is asked to go to the front of the class and perform their riddle.
• The class will then try to guess which type of rock is being demonstrated by the words given in the riddles along with any movement that may assist in better understanding.

Part 3:

• Students will use a piece of colored construction paper or cardstock to write their riddles.
• They will fold the sheet in half, write the riddle on the front cover, then write the answer under the flap.
• Take the student-created riddles and showcase them somewhere specific in the classroom.
• Create an interactive display where the students can go to read the riddles and then flip display open to view the riddle’s answer.

Part 4:

• Students will be given a piece of thick art paper.
• Students select one of the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic.
• Direct students to use Word Art in order to express the type of rock they chose.
• The students are to consider the type of chemical/physical change that takes place in order for nature to create the rock. As part of their Word Art, they should illustrate this change in a way that demonstrates the type of new rock that forms. This activity takes some imagination. The students may need to visually see the Word Art Examples (see Downloads) in order to fully understand the expectations of the project.

Reflective Strategies

• Students will write an informational piece demonstrating their knowledge of the following: the 3 different types of rocks, their attributes, as well as how each type of rock is created.
• The informational piece could be taken for a Summative writing or science grade.
• Informational writing rubric (see Downloads)

Differentiation

Below Grade Level/EL Students:

• Provide these students with photographs/pictures of the 3 types of rocks so they are able to refer back to the 3 different types of rocks and are using the correct terminology as much as possible while working on the project. These photographs/pictures could be of the 3 types of rocks in their natural settings so these learners are able to make better connections.

Above Grade Level:

• Allow your higher-level learners as well as gifted students an extension research activity. Put these students in pairs. The small groups will be given a mineral. They are to identify the attributes of their mineral, where their mineral is found, and what the mineral is used for or it’s purpose. They are to write a short informational essay using the above information. Then they are to create a “Who Am I” riddle for their assigned mineral. They can then teach this new information to the below level learners as well as the EL students.

(Example of a “Who Am I” mineral riddle: I am yellow and soft. I smell really bad. I leave a yellow stain. I am a mineral. Who am I? Answer = sulfur)

Appendix (See Downloads)

• Informational Writing Rubric
• 3-Column Blank Chart
• Word Art Examples

Credits

U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education--Model Development and Dissemination Grants Program Cherokee County (GA) School District and ArtsNow, Inc. Ideas contributed and edited by: Diane McMullen, Edith Alexander, Liz Pendlington, Jessica Espinoza, Richard Benjamin Ph.D., Michele McClelland, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jane Gill

Learning Targets

“I Can…”

• Identify the four types of soil visually and verbally
• Explain how each type of soil is alike and different from one another
• Classify soil based on the attributes I observe
• Illustrate a specific type of soil along with a living thing that uses the soil for living

Essential Questions

• How do scientists classify soil?
• How do I distinguish between the four types of soil?

Materials

White paper, colored pencils, oil pastels, crayons, markers, pencils

Activating Strategy (5-10 min)

Explain what nature photography is:

• Nature photography focuses on landscapes, wildlife and plant life as they are found in their natural environment. Photographs of nature provide glimpses of animals, forests or mountains that may not be seen in person. Many nature photographers try to educate people about the beauty of nature, often with the hope that more people will be inspired to help the environment. (Definition by www.ehow.com)

Then share examples of nature photography through a Gallery Walk:

• Share Examples of Nature Photography (see Downloads) with the class through a Gallery Walk to inspire their Soil Study Artistic Renderings that they’ll create in the Main Activity.

Questions to ask students during Gallery Walk of images:

• What do you see? (Making close observations.)
• What do you notice? (Making sound inferences.)
• What do you wonder? (What questions do you have for the photographer?)

Main Activity

• Explain that today students will be creating their own nature scene with the concentration being on the type of soil (clay, silt, loam, or sand) they choose along with a living thing that lives in or around the soil.
• Students will sketch out their soil nature scene first then add color using either colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, etc.
• As the students complete their rendition, they will gather into small groups. They will each share their soil nature scene and ask the group if they are able to tell which type of soil they depicted. The students are to explain their reasonings with one another.
• Display these soil scenes around the classroom and or hallway to elicit conversations regarding the four types of soil.

Reflective Strategies

After the teacher has completed the differentiation activities, the students will reflect on the following Reflection Questions (see Downloads) using complete sentences:

• How did my illustration of soil help me to better understand the differences in the four types of soils?
• Which type of soil did you think would hold water the best? Explain why. Which type of soil did not hold water the best? Why?

Differentiation

Below Grade Level:

• Students could take their own photographs of soil scenes outside of the school setting and or on their school playground. They could then share their photos with the class having a discussion regarding the soil type and living things that may inhabit that particular type of soil.

Above Grade Level:

• Students could look deeper into the concept of which types of soil holds the most water. Soil types that are able to hold more water may or may not be better to use for farming purposes. This group of students could research the concept of soils ability to hold water. They could then “teach” the other groups/students why knowing which types of soil are able to hold the most water is or is not important to the world around us.

EL Students:

• As a part of the Above Grade Level soil/water research activity, this group of learners could actually do a hands-on experiment using the four types of soil. They could have 4 containers that each contain a specific type of soil, then add water to each to examine which soil holds water most efficiently. This information could then become a part of the soil/water activity.

Additional Resources

• Soil resource website
• Soil & water resource website
• How Soil Is Made by Heather L Montgomery
• "What’s the Dirt on...Dirt?"

Appendix (See Downloads)

• Examples of Nature Photography
• Reflection Questions-Soil Study

Credits

U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education--Model Development and Dissemination Grants Program Cherokee County (GA) School District and ArtsNow, Inc. Ideas contributed and edited by: Diane McMullen, Edith Alexander, Liz Pendlington, Jessica Espinoza, Richard Benjamin Ph.D., Michele McClelland, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jane Gill

Learning Targets

“I Can…”

• Use movement to represent the rock cycle
• Identify how the changes in nature result in a new type of rock forming
• Identify all of the steps in the rock cycle

Essential Questions

• How can art media be classified to then create a composition?

Technology Integration

• A video camera could be used to record each group's performance, allowing for deeper reflection for students by being able to go back and review the recorded performances.

Materials

Video camera, chart paper

Activating Strategy

• As a whole group/class review the rock cycle together by analyzing a diagram.

Suggested images of diagrams:

• http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/images/rock-cycle-diagram-im.jpg
• https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ae/9f/e7/ae9fe7b1890fde1b727887c435f5ac26.jpg
• http://www.cotf.edu/ete/images/modules/msese/earthsysflr/EFCycleP2.gif
• https://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/images/rockintro_08.gif

Dance Warm-Up

• Students will move freely through the space of the classroom while teacher plays instrumental music.
• When the music stops they are to make a body shape.
• Students will explore creating high, mid, and low body shapes.
• Students will create a class list of examples of locomotive movement. (ie. zig-zag, skip, slither, jump)
• As the teacher calls out a few of the locomotive movements from the created list, the students will move freely through the the space demonstrating the assigned movements.

Main Activity

Part 1: Expectations:

• Place students in small groups and go over the expectations for the dance composition they will create together today.
• Stress that each group must have 3 group body shapes that depict the 3 types of rocks and 3 locomotive movements that depict the chemical/ physical changes that occur during the rock cycle that transform the rock into the next type. (ie. weathering, heat & pressure)
• Go over the Choreography Planning Document (see Downloads)

Part 2: Small Group Planning:

• You may need to scaffold the planning of their dances by first having them create 3 body shapes for their 3 different rocks.
• Then have them create the locomotive movements that moves them into each new rock.

Part 3: Sharing their Dances:

• Allow time for the small groups to create their “dance”.
• Groups will perform their dance pieces for the class.
• The students in the audience will observe and determine which body shapes represented which types of rock and also will look for the locomotive movements that represent the changes in nature.

Reflective Questions

• How did you know which body shape represented which rock?
• Did the movement choices that the group selected accurately depict the rock cycle?
• Are there any changes we might suggest these dancers make to their choreography to more effectively show the rock cycle?

Optional Resources

• The Rock Cycle By Base 12 Innovations, Open iTunes to buy and download apps. Free Category: Education Updated: Apr 03, 2013 Version: 1.3 Size: 28.0 MB Language: English Seller: Sivaraman Sivaswami © 2011 Base 12 Innovations
• Rock Cycle - BrainPOP

Appendix (See Downloads)

• Choreography Planning Document

Credits

U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education--Model Development and Dissemination Grants Program Cherokee County (GA) School District and ArtsNow, Inc. Ideas contributed and edited by: Diane McMullen, Edith Alexander, Liz Pendlington, Jessica Espinoza, Richard Benjamin Ph.D., Michele McClelland, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jane Gill