K5 Science Endorsement GPS Lesson Plan

Title
Teacher(s)
E-mail
School
Lesson
Title
Grade
Level

Rocks and Minerals Lesson 1

Ayoola
Doyin.Ayoola@cobbk12.org
Blackwell Elementary
Rocks and Minerals Lesson 1
Third

Concept The difference between rocks

and minerals
s(s)
Targeted
Lesson Essential Questions
What is the difference between rocks and minerals?

Georgia Performance Standards S3E1. Students will

investigate the physical attributes of rocks and soils.
a. Explain difference between rocks and minerals
Safety Considerations: Be sure to keep rocks away from
computers or electronic devices. Do not put any rocks or
minerals into your mouth.
The Learning Plan:
ENGAGE:
Show a power point slide show of pictures of rocks (sedimentary,
metamorphic, igneous) and minerals (quartz, diamond, pencils, jewelry,
chalk). Ask students what do these items all have in common. Ask students
have they looked closely at rocks before? What are they made of? Then have
each student take out their rock and/or minerals collection (no more than 10
samples). Have students use magnifying glasses to closely observe samples
and discuss with partners which samples are rocks and which samples are
minerals. Ask them which ones do they think are rocks and which ones are
minerals.

EXPLORE: Have students get with a partner and sort their rock and mineral
collections based on prior knowledge into 2 different categories. Have them
discuss with groups what they thought made some rocks and some minerals.
As a teacher, go around asking the partners how they determined where
they were sorting the different samples.
EXPLAIN: Read trade book titled Rocks and Minerals page 18-20. Before,
during, and after reading have the class help the teacher fill out a T-chart
discussing the differences between rocks and minerals. Explain to students
that a rock is made up of two or more minerals and that mineral can be
made up of just 1 thing and it is what makes up a rock. Explain that rocks are
solid earth materials formed from a mixture of minerals and some other
materials. Whereas minerals are naturally formed solids with crystal
structures. Now again have students get out whiteboards and write R-for
Rock and M-for Mineral and show many pictures on power point slide show of
rocks and minerals. As a formative assessment observe whether students in
the class can identify whether a sample is a rock or mineral.
Pass out chocolate chip cookies to each student. Have them draw the cookie
in their science journal and label what part of the cookie would be the rock
and what part of the cookie would be a mineral. Discuss as a class what
made each part of the cookie a rock vs. a mineral.

Title of the Lesson:

Lesson Logistics/Materials: Students will work in small groups
and/or partners.
Materials needed: students rock collection, magnifying glass, book
Rocks and Minerals
Opening/Hook/Initial Focus:
The teacher will show different pictures of a rock and/or mineral and ask if it
is a rock or if it is a mineral. Students will also get a chance to look at their
rock collection and decide if their specimen is a rock or a mineral.
Work Session:
Show a power point slide show of pictures of rocks (sedimentary,
metamorphic, igneous) and minerals (quartz, diamond, pencils, jewelry,
chalk). Ask students what do these items all have in common. Ask students
have they looked closely at rocks before? What are they made of? Then have

each student take out their rock and/or minerals collection (no more than 10
samples). Have students use magnifying glasses to closely observe samples
and discuss with partners which samples are rocks and which samples are
minerals. Ask them which ones do they think are rocks and which ones are
minerals. Have students get with a partner and sort their rock and mineral
collections based on prior knowledge into 2 different categories. Have them
discuss with groups what they thought made some rocks and some minerals.
Go around asking the partners how they determined where they were sorting
the different samples. Read trade book titled Rocks and Minerals page 18-20.
Before, during, and after reading have the class help the teacher fill out a Tchart discussing the differences between rocks and minerals. Explain to
students that a rock is made up of two or more minerals and that mineral can
be made up of just 1 thing and it is what makes up a rock. Explain that rocks
are solid earth materials formed from a mixture of minerals and some other
materials. Whereas minerals are naturally formed solids with crystal
structures. Now again have students get out whiteboards and write R-for
Rock and M-for Mineral and show many pictures on power point slide show of
rocks and minerals. As a formative assessment observe whether students in
the class can identify whether a sample is a rock or mineral. Pass out
chocolate chip cookies to each student. Have them draw the cookie in their
science journal and label what part of the cookie would be the rock and what
part of the cookie would be a mineral. Discuss as a class what made each
part of the cookie a rock vs. a mineral.
Closing: To end the lesson, ask the students what the difference between a
rock and a mineral is. Have them draw a chart, venn diagram, or some
explanation in their science journals that best helps them to understand the
difference between a rock and a mineral. Have them turn to a partner and
explain the difference between rocks and minerals to each other.