Content Area: Science
Planning Tool: Grade: 4
BIG Idea/Theme:
Background
Knowledge:
Science: Geological Features/ Rocks/ Water
Science:
* Classify rocks and their characteristics
* the layers of the Earth
* reading graphs
Unit: 1 Timeline: August 12-September 25
Essential
Question:
Science: Describe geological features of the Earth.
Science Standards:
12. Construct explanations by citing evidence
found in patterns of rock formations and
fossils in rock layers that Earth changes over
time through both slow and rapid processes
(e.g., rock layers containing shell fossils
appearing above rock layers containing plant
fossils and no shells indicating a change from
land to water over time, a canyon with
different rock layers in the walls and a river in
the bottom indicating that over time a river
cut through the rock).
13. Plan and carry out investigations to
examine properties of soils and soil types
(e.g., color, texture, capacity to retain water,
ability to support growth of plants).
14. Explore information to support the claim
that landforms are the result of a combination
of constructive forces, including crustal
deformation, volcanic eruptions, and sediment
deposition as well as a result of destructive
forces, including erosion and weathering
BIG Idea Voc:
Science: Plateaus, faults, canyons, sand
dunes, ice caps, continental shelves, ocean
ridges, geological, rock cycle, mineral,
erosion, weathering, crustal deformation,
volcanic eruptions, sediment deposition,
earthquake, tornado, hurricane,
sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous
I can statements:
Science Standards:
15. Analyze and interpret data (e.g., angle of
slope in downhill movement of water, volume
of water flow, cycles of freezing and thawing
of water, cycles of heating and cooling of
water, speed of wind, relative rate of soil
deposition, amount of vegetation) to
determine effects of weathering and rate of
erosion by water, ice, wind, and vegetation
using one single form of weathering or
erosion at a time.
16. Describe patterns of Earth’s features on
land and in the ocean using data from maps
(e.g., topographic maps of Earth’s land and
ocean floor; maps of locations of mountains,
continental boundaries, volcanoes, and
earthquakes).
17. Formulate and evaluate solutions to limit
the effects of natural Earth processes on
humans (e.g., designing earthquake, tornado,
or hurricane-resistant buildings; improving
monitoring of volcanic activity).*
Science:
 Describe a variety of geological features of the
Earth.
 Describe how the Earth changes over time and how
different landforms are created.
 Read a topographic map.
 Describe a variety of characteristics of different
types of soil.
 Identify the effects of weathering and erosion.
 Explain effects of natural Earth processes on
humans and solutions to protect or prevent these
effects.
Resource
Week 1
Science Book Ch.
8/9/10
Reading Selection/
Read Aloud
Sub-Question (part
of assessment)
Hatchet
Vocabulary
Plateaus, faults,
canyons, sand
dunes, continental
shelves, ocean
ridges, geological,
rock cycle, mineral,,
sedimentary ,
metamorphic,
igneous
Create sequence
charts of the rock
cycle using captions
and illustrations C10.
Writing Task/
Extended Activity
Experiments
Planned/
Project(s)
Describe bodies of
waters, beaches, and
ocean ridges.
Describe continental
shelves, plateaus,
faults, canyons
Rock and Earth
Materials Kits
Mineral Activity
(Cereal Activity C8)
Week 2
Science Book Ch.
8/9/10
Week 3
Science Book Ch.
8/9/10
Week 4
Science Book Ch.
8/9/10
Week 5
Science Book Ch. 8/9/10
Week 6
Science Book Ch.
8/9/10
Hatchet
Grand Canyon
Investigate and
report findings to
explain the ways
Earth changes from
erosion and
weathering.
Find patterns in
rock formations to
support that the
Earth changes over
time.
Explain waters role
in erosion.
Explain the water
cycle.
Rocks, canyons,
erosion,
weathering, types
of volcanoes
Hatchet
Hatchet
Hatchet
Hatchet
Describe patterns of
the Earth’s features
using data from
maps- topographic
maps, location
maps of mountains,
continental
boundaries,
volcanoes, and
earthquakes.
Find evidence to
support the claim that
landforms are the
result of a
combination of forces
like crustal
deformation, volcanic
eruptions, and
sediment deposition
as well as a result of
destructive forces,
including erosion and
weathering.
Research and evaluated
solutions to limit the
effects of natural Earth
process like earthquakes,
tornadoes, hurricanes.
Formulate and create a
new solution.
Investigate and
examine soil
types. Report
findings and
include color,
texture, capacity
to retain water,
ability to support
growth of plants.
Topographic maps,
continental
boundaries,
volcanoes,
earthquakes
Crustal deformation,
volcanic eruptions,
sediment deposition,
erosion, weathering
Earthquakes, tornadoes,
hurricanes, etc
Soil descriptions
of texture, color,
capacity to retain
water, etc
Sand and water
erosion actvity
Choose a geological
feature and write a
poem about the
natural beauty.
Draw a diagram or
write a paragraph to
explain volcanic
eruptions.
Write a research piece
to support or argue
the sub question.
Work in a team to
investigate effects of
natural Earth process on
Earth and create a
solution.
Create a soil
dictionary.
Rock and Earth
Materials Kits
Play doh
topographic map
activity
Mapping Life’s
Journey activity
Jello earthquake
simulation
Notes:
http://www.uen.org/core/science/sciber/sciber4/stand-3/ - activities and information
http://www.soil-net.com/dev/page.cfm?pageid=activities_sheets&loginas=anon_activities - soil informational sheets and activities
http://sciencenotebooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Rocks
Scholastic Study Jams