Unit Lesson Plan – The History of Planet Earth
Teacher:
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Time Frame:
4
Grade:
Subject:
13 days
School:
PSI 4th Grade Science
NGSS DCI
ESS1C: The History of Planet
Earth
Local, regional, and global patterns of rock formations reveal changes
over time due to earth forces, such as earthquakes. The presence and
location of certain fossil types indicate the order in which rock layers
were formed. (4-ESS-1)
http://www.nextgenscience.org/4ess1-earth-place-universe
ESS2.B Plate Tectonics and
Large-Scale System
Interactions
The locations of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, ocean floor
structures, earthquakes, and volcanoes occur in patterns. Most earthquakes
and volcanoes occur in bands that are often along the boundaries between
continents and oceans. Major mountain chains form inside continents or
near their edges. Maps can help locate the different land and water
freatures areas of Earth. (4-ESS2-2)
http://www.nextgenscience.org/4ess2-earth-systems
Instructional Objective:
4-ESS1-1
Instructional Objective:
4-ESS2-2
Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers
to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s
features.
Essential Questions
(What questions will the student be able to answer as a result of the instruction?)
1. How are fossils formed?
2. How do Earthquakes affect the patterns in rock formations and fossils?
3. How do maps help identify where Earthquakes and Volcanoes are most likely to occur?
Knowledge & Skills
(What skills are needed to achieve the desired results?)
By the end of this unit, students will know:
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By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Layers of the Earth
How fossils are formed
How Earthquakes affect the land
The movement of the plates and the affects from
them
How Earthquakes and Volcanoes occur, their
effects and use a map to identify where they may
occur
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Identify the layers of the Earth
Explain how fossils are formed
Explain what effects Earthquakes have on the land
Explain the movement of the plates and the affects
from them
 Explain how Earthquakes and Volcanoes occur and
list the effects from them
 Use a map to make identify where Earthquakes and
Volcanoes are most likely to occur
4th Grade PSI
The History of Planet Earth
Assessment
(What is acceptable evidence to show desired results (rubrics, exam, etc.)? Attach Copy
During the Smart Notebook lesson designed to introduce concepts, students will be continually questioned on these
concepts using a combination of class work/homework questions and the SMART Response system. Classwork and
Homework questions will be discussed as a class and misconceptions will be addressed by the teacher prior to the
formal evaluations listed below.
Lab 1: Earth’s Layers
Lab 2: Rock Classification
Lab 3: Making a Fossil
Quiz 1: Layers of the Earth, Rocks and Fossils
Lab 4: Plate Movement
Lab 5: Earthquake’s Fault Planes
Lab 6: Making a Volcano
Quiz 2: Plates, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes
Unit Test
(What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc, that will lead to desired results (the plan)?
Topic
Classwork/ Labs
Homework
1
Layers of the Earth
SMART Notebook Slides 418; Lab 1: Earth’s Layers
Layers of the Earth
2
Types of Rocks
SMART Notebook Slides
19-38; Lab 2: Rock
Classification
Types of Rocks
3
Fossils
SMART Notebook Slides
39-44; Lab 3: Making a
Fossil
4
Fossils
SMART Notebook Slides
45-57
5
Layers of the Earth, Types
of Rocks and Fossils;
Plates
Quiz #1; SMART Notebook
Slides 58-68
Day
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4th Grade PSI
Fossils
Study for Quiz
The History of Planet Earth
6
SMART Notebook Slides
68-79; Lab 4: Plate
Movement
Plates
SMART Notebook Slides
80-99; Lab 5: Earthquakes
Fault Planes; Earthquake
Demo
SMART Notebook Slides
100-117; Lab 6: Making a
Volcano
SMART Notebook Slides
118-123; Lab 6: Making a
Volcano Day 2
SMART Notebook Slides
124-135; Effects from
Earthquakes and
Volcanoes Classwork
Plates
7-8
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
9
Volcanoes
10
Volcanoes
11
Effects from Earthquakes
and Volcanoes
12
Plates, Earthquakes, and
Volcanoes
Quiz #2; Start Study Guide
in groups
Complete Study Guide
13
Unit Review
Unit Study Guide
Study for Test
14
Unit Test
Volcanoes
Effects from Earthquakes
and Volcanoes; Study for
Quiz
N/A
*While there are many slides for each topic, several slides within the notebook are hidden and won’t be
used during instructional time.
**HW Problems are currently not scaffolded from least to most difficult, but are instead listed in order of
topic. Teacher should pay special attention at the end of each class period when assigning HW so that
only problems related to the topic that was taught are being assigned.
***Lessons are based on 40minute periods, you may need to adjust based on your school schedule.
www.njctl.org
4th Grade PSI
The History of Planet Earth