Module 10: Science Rocks- Science 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to observe and describe different types of soil, explain how soil is formed, observe the process of decomposition, explain how natural materials are broken down to enrich the soil, identify the properties of rocks and minerals, and compare and contrast rocks and minerals.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Soil hand lens or magnifying glass;
2 Decomposition plastic bag (2, small)
fruit or vegetable scraps (like a banana peel)
soil
plastic wrap
3 Rocks and Minerals None

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Soil
  1. Observe and describe different types of soil.
  2. Explain how soil is formed.
2 Decomposition
  1. Observe the process of decomposition.
  2. Explain how natural materials are broken down to enrich the soil.
3 Rocks and Minerals
  1. Identify the properties of rocks and minerals.
  2. Compare and contrast rocks and minerals.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
soil
weathering
decomposition
rocks
minerals
Earth science

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Soil 6 Soil Observations Assignment
2 Decomposition 6 How Nature Recycles Assignment
3 Rocks and Minerals 6 Compare and Contrast Rocks and Minerals Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Soil After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain what soil is and the different types of soil.
2 Decomposition After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain how soil is formed, and what decomposition is.
3 Rocks and Minerals After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the three types of rocks and the properties of rocks and minerals. Have your student go outside and search for rocks. Have them look at the rocks they find and identify them as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Soil
  1. How is soil formed?
Decomposition
  1. How does decomposition enrich soil?
Rocks and Minerals
  1. What are the differences between rocks and minerals?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 Under Your Feet... Soil, Sand, and Everything Underground Wenjia Tang
2 The Magic School Bus: Rocky Road Trip Judith Bauer Stamper

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing