Alvarado Intermediate School
Teacher:
McNiel
James
Grade & Subject:
5th Grade Science
Lesson Synopsis:
In this lesson, students will focus on three landforms, how they are formed, and
where they are located in Texas. In previous grades, students have studied
weathering, erosion, deposition, as well as the formation of other specific
landforms. Students will model the formation of a sand dune, canyon, and delta.
This content is a readiness standard for both the Grade 5 and the Grade 8 STAAR
and is not covered again before the test.
Week of:
Dec. 8-12
Unit & Essential Questions: Unit 06 Earth’s
changes
Key Understandings and Guiding Questions:
•
The surface of the Earth is constantly
changing, and no feature on Earth is permanent.
—
Do most landforms change slowly or
quickly over time?
•
There are a variety of different
landforms on Earth's surface caused by wind,
water, and ice.
—
Do landforms caused by wind, water,
and ice look the same?
TEKS:
5.3C—draw or develop a model that represents how something works or looks that cannot be seen.
5.7A—Explore the processes that led to the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.
5.7B—Recognize how landforms such as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes are the result of changes to Earth’s
surface by wind, water, and ice.
5.7D—identify fossils as evidence of past living organisms and the nature of environments at the time using
models.
Vocabulary of Instruction:
Landform, delta, canyon, sand dune, weathering, erosion, deposition, wind, water , ice, imbed , imbedded, boulder, river
branch, river delta, abundance, coastal landscape, rocky outcrop, volume, mass
Customized Learning:
Reduced assignments
Extra time for completing assignments
Short instructions
Extra time for oral responses
Frequent feedback
Peer tutoring
Paired working arrangement
Emphasis on major points
A
Engage
Explore
Explain
Elaborate/Extend
Essential Question(s) &
Hook
Instruction and Mini-Lesson
Guided Practice:
Independent
Practice
Evaluate/Assess
(I do, we do, you do)
MONDAY
Coastal Landscape Day
What is a ‘rocky outcrop’?
How is a rocky outcrop
different than a beach?
TUESDAY
Fossil Day
What are fossils?
Students will add to their vocabulary for this
Through whole group discussion, we review
unit.
vocabulary from last week as we begin to
Because Alvarado does not have coastal
add more vocabulary to this unit.
landscapes, we will look at pictures as we take
notes and identify different types of erosion,
weathering, and evidence of deposition with
different landforms. Focus on river deltas, rocky
outcrops, sandy beaches, sand dunes, canyons
and river formation of canyons.
Students will record
notes and will write
responses to
questions such as
“How would you
describe a landform
to a younger
student?” and then
share out as whole
group discussions
continue.
Informally assess
during discussions
and clear up any
misconceptions.
Students will independently read pages 317-323 Students will follow procedures on page 39
in Science book taking AVID/Cornell notes as
of their interactive flipcharts to build ‘fossils’.
they go followed by a brief discussion of main
points about fossils to check for understanding.
Students will share
fossils with
purposeful talk at
table groups
Students will
analyze their
results.
A-What type of
fossil did you
make and
examine?
B. Could you find
such a fossil in
real life? Why or
why not?
What can scientists learn
about Earth’s history by
studying fossils of animals
that no longer live on
Earth?
WEDNESDAY
Model Day
How does ice change the
surface of Earth?
Whole group read pages 398 and 399 in
Science book.
We will replicate a model of glaciers as they
move down mountains, effects of erosion of
soil, sand, gravel, and rocks, wind on sand
dunes.
Informally assess
as we share out
our written
responses clearing
up any
misconceptions.
THURSDAY
Review for test day!
Students will be guided through a review for
test tomorrow using various Study Jams on the
computer.
FRIDAY
Unit Test-Earth’s Changes
Students will demonstrate knowledge of Earth’s
changing surfaces due to wind, water, and ice.
Students will use the interactive websites to
view slideshows and video shorts
interactively by completing a practice test
after each topic. As they are guided through
each Study Jam, teacher will clear up
misconceptions by reviewing the practice
test scores.
Students will
Quick Write to
reflect on what
they have learned
in the past 2
weeks. (Prompt:
What do you know
now that you didn’t
know before we
started this
unit…explain what
your favorite fact
has been in this
unit…what did you
find fascinating.
Formal
Assessment:
CScope