1. Rocks and Minerals
With NGSS

2. Contact Info.
Denise Trenner
Nohl Canyon Elementary

3. Please make a name sign including the following:
Your name (large)
School Name
A Picture that show a hobby, interest, or interesting fact
A smile in the corner if you’ve taught the kit before

4. Cross Cutting Concepts
Patterns
Cause and Effect
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Systems and system models
Energy and Matter
Stability and change
From NGSS Appendix G

5. Scientific and Engineering Practices
Asking questions and defining problems
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Analyzing and interpreting data
Using mathematics and computational thinking
Constructing explanations and designing solutions
Engaging in argument from evidence
Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
From NGSS Appendix F

6. Enduring Understandings:
The Earth’s materials are formed and change over time through natural processes and human action.
Minerals for in rocks are necessary to humans and used to make our lives easier.
Essential Questions:
How do rocks and minerals cycle through our environment?
How are rocks and minerals use?
What forces are responsible for changes to the Earth’s surface?

7. Lesson 1- Observing Rocks
CCC
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 2, Text
Students will explore and sort rock samples
Students will record observations of rock samples
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

8. Lesson 2 – Igneous Rocks Introduce layers of the Earth Do pictorial
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Pg ,
Introduce layers of the Earth
Do pictorial
Guiding question: How can you identify an igneous rock?
Discuss volcanoes
Optional Make an igneous rock (root beer float)
Optional place to discuss plate movement and earthquakes
SEP
Construction explanations
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

9. Lesson 3 - Sedimentary Rocks
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change Pg
Do pictorial
Guiding question: How can you identify a sedimentary rock?
Teach hand motions
Introduce the Erosion Song
Optional: Peanut Butter and Jelly Geology
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

10. Lesson 4 - Weathering Physical Weathering activity
CCC
Cause and Effect
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Additional Lessons 9 and 10 pgs
Physical Weathering activity
Guiding question: What will happen to granite if we shake it in a container?
Chemical Weathering activity
Guiding question: What will happen to limestone if acid rain falls on it?
Physical weathering with ice
Guiding question: What will happen to a plastic bottle if we fill it up with water and then freeze it?
SEP
Asking questions
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Construction explanations
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

11. Lesson 5 – Erosion by Water
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Additional Lesson 11, pg
Students use stream tables to observe erosion by rivers and streams.
Guiding question: How does running water change the shape of the land?
SEP
Asking questions
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Construction explanations
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

12. Lesson 6 – Erosion by Waves
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Additional lesson 12, pg
Students will use stream tables to model/observe erosion by waves.
Guiding question: How does wave action change the shape of the land?
SEP
Asking questions
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Construction explanations
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

13. Lesson 7 – Erosion by Ice and Wind
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Additional Lesson 13, pg
Students will observe how a piece of ice erodes sand
Guiding question: How will the ice change the “land”?
Students will use boxes to observe the affect of wind on the sand
Guiding question: How will the wind affect the land?
SEP
Asking questions
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Construction explanations
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

14. Lesson 8 – Landslides (Deposition)
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change
Lesson 8 – Landslides (Deposition)
Additional Lesson 14, pg
Students will use stream tables to use observe deposition
Guiding question: Where does eroded material go?
SEP
Asking questions
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Construction explanations
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

15. Lesson 9 – Metamorphic Rocks
CCC
Cause and Effect
Systems and Models
Stability and Change Pg
Read about metamorphic rocks
Guiding question: How can you identify a metamorphic rock?
Take notes on metamorphic rocks
Do Starburst activity
SEP
Developing and using models
Construction explanations
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

16. Lesson 10 – Rock Identification
CCC
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 2-3
Students will use rock information cards to determine names of rock samples. Information cards pg
Have students sort rocks into igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic groups.
Guiding question: How can you determine what type of rock you have? Students will use rock information cards to determine names of rock samples.
Answers on pg. 26.
SEP
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

17. Lesson 11- Rock Cycle Do rock cycle pictorial
CCC
Patterns
Cause and Effect
Systems
Energy and Matter
Stability and Change Pg
Do rock cycle pictorial
Guiding question: How does one rock type become another type?
Play the rock cycle game
SEP
Developing and using models
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

18. Lesson 12 – Mineral Observation
CCC
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 4-6
Have students start mineral observation sheets
Students will observe and record the color, and texture of mineral samples
Guiding question: How will the properties of a mineral help to identify it?
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

19. Lesson 13- Streak Color
CCC
Cause and Effect
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 7
Students will learn about mineral streak color.
Guiding question: How does streak color help to identify a mineral?
Students will test minerals to determine their streak color.
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

20. Lesson 14 – Light on Minerals
CCC
Cause and Effect
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 8-9
Students determine how much light travels through a mineral (transmissivity).
How does the amount of light that travels through a mineral help to identify it?
Students will determine how much light reflects off of a mineral (luster).
How does the amount of light that reflects off a mineral help to identify it?
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

21. Lesson 15 – Hardness of Minerals
CCC
Cause and Effect
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 10
Students will learn about Mohs scale of hardness.
Guiding question: How does the hardness of a mineral help to identify it?
Students will use the scratch test to determine the hardness of mineral samples.
SEP
Asking questions
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

22. Lesson 16 – Identifying Minerals
CCC
Structure and Function
STC Lesson 13-14
Students will use mineral observation sheets and mineral information cards to determine the name of the mineral samples.
Guiding question: How can you use the physical properties of minerals help you identify them?
Answers on pg. 48
Optional Wrap up- Do The Adventures of Carla Calcite
SEP
Asking questions
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate info.

23. Resources
United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Science in Your Backyard has real time monitoring of landslides in California.
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) -
Mineral Information Institute -
National Geographic apps
The Rock Cycle app
Rock Types app
Folds and Faults app

24. Extensions
Create a new rock cycle story like The Adventures of Carla Calcite
Create a classroom rock collection
Chocolate Chip Geology
Make a model of a volcano
Design a method to control flooding
Create a model to show the rock cycle
Research uses of minerals