Nature Center Lesson Plan: My Pet Rock

Name: Mikela Caseria

Subject Area: Natural Resources
Topic: Glaciers and Gravel
Grade Level: 3th grade
Unit Standard:
E.ES.03.41 Identify natural resources (metals, fuels, fresh water, fertile soil, and forests).
E.ES.03.51 Describe ways humans are dependent on the natural environment (forests, water,
clean air, Earth materials) and constructed environments (homes, neighborhoods, shopping
malls, factories, and industry).
E.ES.03.51 Describe ways humans are dependent on the natural environment (forests, water,
clean air, Earth materials) and constructed environments (homes, neighborhoods, shopping
malls, factories, and industry).
E.SE.03.22 Identify and describe natural causes of change in the Earths surface (erosion,
glaciers, volcanoes, landslides, and earthquakes).
3G5.0.2 Describe how people adapt to, use, and modify the natural resources of Michigan.
Lesson Outcomes:
TLW be able to discuss how gravel is used as a natural resource.
TLW describe how gravel and sand got to Michigan from the glaciers.
TLW explain the human-environment interaction involving natural resources.
TLW identify how gravel impacts humans and explain their needs for it.
TLW explain how natural resources in Michigan can be used in other states.
Rationale/Purpose for Lesson:
The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to take a rock and explore its greater idea.
The rock shows connection to history on how the gravel pit was made, and types of rocks. While
showing students how that one rock, is connected to natural resources and how it plays a big role
in human-environment interaction.
Resources/Materials:

Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor

Gravel Pit
Rock and Minerals Guidebook
Journals

Pencils
Rulers
http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogmich/sand&gravel.html
http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogmich/outwash_plains.html

Lesson Introduction:
We have rocks all around us. They are all different, developed in a different way and
coming from different locations. How did Michigan get its rocks? How did Kalamazoo or
Portage get theirs? Or the gravel pit at the Nature Center? We are going to explore and discover
the rocks around us. To investigate where they came from and the importance they have on
human-environment interaction.
Procedures:
1. Read book Everybody Needs a Rock.
2. Talk about different types of rocks
a. Sedimentary: rocks, shells, bones and other sediments are pressed together until
harden.
b. Metamorphous: rocks formed under intense heat and pressure over long periods
of time.
c. Igneous: formed when melted materials cool down and harden.
(Show examples of each type of rock)
3. Talk about going to the Gravel Pit, we are going to discuss how it got there and examine
some pet rocks.
4. Go over walking on a trail, quiet feet and observe while we head to the Gravel Pit.
5. (Hike to Gravel Pit)
6. (Arrived at Gravel Pit) Talk about safety walking down the pit, or being too close to the
edge on the top of the pit.
7. Talk about glaciers: movement, and outwash plain. Gravel Pit: natural resource (roads
and concrete) and that you can mine gravel.
a. Natural resources: Michigan needs gravel, but so does other states. Why do they
need it? How do other states get their gravel?
8. Let students go around and explore the gravel. What else do they see? (sand) Can they
identify types of rocks? The minerals?
9. We are going to have a pet rock to take back to examine.
10. We are going to observe, describe, draw, and measure our rocks in our journals.
11. Bring the class back in together.
12. (I have picked a big rock)
13. Compare and contrast my rock to yours: venn diagram
14. Talk about venn diagram and what each space means.
15. Have students observe, describe, draw and measure, using their venn diagram comparing
my rock to theirs.
16. We need to put our pet rocks back because we dont like to hurt nature.
17. (Closure)
18. Heading back, talk about importance of being on the trail and at zero so we can observe
nature.

Closure:
What is the importance of these rocks? How does gravel pits help us? Natural resources?
Gravel pits are important to use because it helps us with making roads and concrete. We need
these because it connects us to different parts of the country and Canada or Mexico, so it
connects us to the world. Other states may not have this type of resource, so they made need to
get it from us. Gravel pits could be mined by man, but the glaciers picked up rocks on the way
down here and it dropped as it was melting. (Looking for these ideas)
Glaciers = Brought gravel = Important natural resource = Connects people = HumanEnvironment interaction
Glaciers played a big role in Michigans life. Giving us many resources that we use today, and
gravel pits are just one of them. The great lakes is another huge resource.