Chris Antal
Western Connecticut State University
Scotts Ridge Middle School
Lesson Plan
Student Teacher Christopher Antal
Grade Level_7
Date of lesson January 18, 2010
Institution Scotts Ridge Middle School Length of lesson 45 minute lessons
Content Standards: Identify one or two primary local, state or national curricular standards this lesson is designed to help students
attain. How will the learning tasks lead students to attain the identified standards?
CSCF 7.3 - C 20.
C INQ.10
NBTS Standards
NSTA standard A
NSTA standard B
Learner Background: Describe the students’ prior knowledge or skill related to the learning objective(s) and the content of this
lesson, using data from pre-assessment as appropriate. How did the students’ previous performance in this content area or skill impact your
planning for this lesson?
Students have previously learned about the physical properties of rocks and their potential uses. They
have also learned how to relate the properties of rocks to their environmental conditions during their
formation. Based on this prior knowledge, the students will need to understand the content of the rock
cycle.
Student Learning Objective(s): Identify specific and measurable learning objectives for this lesson.
1. Students will be able identify the components, elements and location of the Lithosphere
2. Students will demonstrate their basic knowledge of The Rock Cycle (Igneous, Sedimentary,
Metamorphic)
3. Students will understand the how and where magma is formed.
Assessment: How will you ask students to demonstrate mastery of the student learning objective(s)?
Attach a copy of any assessment
materials you will use, along with assessment criteria.
1. Students will get into groups of three. Each student will be assigned a rock. They will need to
explain how they were formed, what their properties are and how they relate to the other two rocks
in their group.
2. Students will complete a homework assignment on the depth of the earth’s crust in which different
types of rocks are found and on the two layers of the earth that play major roles in the rock cycle,
the Lithosphere and the Asthenosphere.
Materials/Resources:
List the materials you will use in each learning activity including any technological resources.
Chris Antal
Western Connecticut State University
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuOIDg41MZE&videos=hfMfMZQXtGA&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1 (Rock
Cycle), SMART Board, Classroom Computer, Igneous Rock, Metamorphic Rock, Sedimentary Rock,
Sponge Rock, Lined Paper, Textbooks.
Learning Activities:
Identify the instructional grouping (whole class, small groups, pairs, individuals) you will use in each lesson segment and approximate time
frames for each.
Initiation: Briefly describe how you will initiate the lesson. (Set expectations for learning; articulate to learners what they will
be doing and learning in this lesson, how they will demonstrate learning, and why this is important)
I will ask for the class’s attention. I have already made plans with one of the students in the class,
Oscar Robertson, to act as if he is dozing off. I will then pick up a sponge which looks like a rock
and throw it at Oscar. Oscar will then pretend the rock hurt him and I’m pretty sure the students
will be engaged from that point on. Of course, we won’t play on the charade for long and Oscar
can show the students it’s just a sponge, but I will then ask the students what they know about
rocks. And if it were a real rock, what kind of rock do they think it would be?
Lesson Development: Describe how you will develop the lesson, what you will do to model or guide practice,
and the learning activities students will be engaged in order to gain the key knowledge and skills identified in the
student learning objective(s).
A. I will get the classes attention with the Rock Scare!
B. The class will then become engaged with the rocks, and will be asked to identify what kind of
rock it may be and where might it be found?
C. I will then explain that the sponge rock most likely represents a piece of granite which is an
Igneous Rock found in the uppermost layers of the Earth’s Lithosphere. I will go on to explain
that igneous rocks are the first rock type to be formed from molten lava which spews from
volcanoes.
D. I will push the lesson forward by asking the students to identify the other two types of rock
types. From there I will explain about Igneous and Metamorphic rocks, culminating this
section with an explanation of the Rock Cycle and a short skit on YouTube to really drive the
message home.
Closure: Briefly describe how you will close the lesson and help students understand the purpose of the lesson. (Interact with
learners to elicit evidence of student understanding of purpose(s) for learning and mastery of objectives)
I will break the class down into groups of three. Each student in the group will represent a
different type of rock. They will need to explain how they were formed, what their properties are
and how they relate to the other two rocks in their group.
The students will then be issued their homework assignment out of their texts, dealing with the
depth of the earth’s crust in which different types of rocks are found. The Assignment will also
reference the two layers of the earth that play major roles in the rock cycle, the Lithosphere and
the Asthenosphere.
Chris Antal
Western Connecticut State University
Individuals Needing Differentiated Instruction: Describe 1 to 3 students with learning differences. These students may be
special or general education students and need not be the same students for each lesson. Students may represent a range of ability and/or
achievement levels, including students with IEPs, gifted and talented students, struggling learners, and English language learners.
Note: Differentiated instruction may not be necessary in every lesson. However, over the course of the student teaching
placement, it is expected that each student teacher will demonstrate the ability to differentiate instruction in order to meet the
needs of students with learning differences.
Which students do you anticipate may struggle with the content/learning objectives of this lesson?
Student name
Evidence that the student needs
How will you differentiate instruction in this lesson to support student
differentiated instruction
learning?
Oscar Robertson Currently reading at 4th grade
The lesson is designed to be demonstrational as well as highly interactive.
level. Acts out frequently.
The student will be able to keep up during the lessons. The at home
assignments may require extra time reading. Oscar also is aware of my extra
time after school for help with homework.
Which students will need opportunities for enrichment/higher level of challenge?
Student name
Evidence that the student needs
How will you differentiate instruction in this lesson to support student
differentiated instruction
learning?
Dwight Howard
Dwight has not received a grade
I will ask Dwight the difficult questions, the rest of the class may be
lower than a 97% all year. He
struggling with. I will also ask for him to assist me if nearby groups are
always has the answers in class
having trouble explaining their rock properties/relationships.
discussions.
Notes from the pre-conference