1.
Where?
What?
Why?
When?
How?
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

2. The Mystery of Death Valley
L/O: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks
All students will describe a place using geographical vocabulary.
Most students will reach a conclusion based on evidence presented.
Some students will present and justify their ideas using evidence of from the physical world.
Starter: Find Death Valley in your atlas and write 5 facts about it

3. Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

4. Why does Molly Move? Each group has 28 mystery cards.
Read them out to each other.
See if you can work out the answer to the question.
Write a paragraph to explain your theory.
Aim for level 6!
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

5. Pit Stop!
Death Valley gets wet in Winter:
Can you describe the effects on Death Valley? Use geographical words
e.g. moist, precipitation, climate, warm, cool…
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

6. Level 6 - Detailed Explanation Very simple examples!!
Level 4 – Describe
‘Out of the window I can see the place we have break’
Level 5 – Explain
‘Out of the window I can see the break area because it is playing field’
Level 6 – Detailed explanation
‘Out of the window I can see the break area because it is a playing field. The land has been converted for sports use and break use within a school.
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

7. Plenary activity
Each group to present their theory to the rest of the class
What level did they achieve?
Did they use geographical vocabulary?
Level 4 – Describe
Level 5 – Explain
Level 6 – Detailed explanation
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

8. The Answer?....... http://www.larryo.net/RaceTrack.html
One theory makes sense, that sheets of ice help the rocks along on their journeys. During especially wet winters several inches of water can collect on the playa surface, turning it briefly into a lake. On cold nights it's assumed that thin sheets of ice form, locking in rocks. When the strong winds blow through the valley and hit the ice sheets at an angle, the wind pushes with enough force to move the ice and the rocks embedded in it along the slippery surface.
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks

9. Plenary achievement suggestions
I explained why rocks move in Death Valley
I used Geographical words in my answer
I worked well in a group and thought of a theory to solve the mystery
target suggestions
I should explain in greater detail why rocks move
I should have used more Geographical words in my answer
Objective: To investigate what processes could be responsible for the Sliding Rocks