Physical Education: Creative Arts:

Social Studies at the Center: Mining

1. Investigate the rocks and minerals that are in the book Rocks and Minerals Identification Book. They will use this information to complete a science experiment. (See Science activity #1)
2. Students will create their own unique mineral or rock by using construction paper, aluminum foil, markers, scissors, and glue. 3. While the students are creating their unique minerals or rocks, they will be listening to music about the rock cycle from the website http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/ science/rocks-minerals-landforms/rock-cycle.htm

1. Students will read Can you find these Rocks? before completing the activity so they can spot these rocks in the manmade mining pit. 2. They will be able to mine in the outside field in the mining pit so they can get the experience of how mining is done. 3. Students will have to explain their experience in mining to geologists who they will be writing a letter to. (See Lang. Arts activity #3)

Math:
1. Students will complete a math problem that is based on the amount and time it takes for miners to mine a certain amount of rocks. 2. Math problem: It takes two hours for miners to mine 400 pounds of rocks. If they start work at 6:00 a.m. and stop work at 6:00 p.m., how many pounds of rocks will they have at the end of their shift? 3. When they have completed the math problem, they will use the answer to this problem to help figure out a way to make mining go faster. They will create an argument for it and present it in their letter to geologists. (See Language Arts activity #3)

Science:
1. Students will do different property tests on the rocks and minerals that they collect from their mining. 2. They will use their Science textbook as well as A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals to learn how to do a property test and what the results mean.

Language Arts:
1. Students will listen to the teacher read the book Basher Science: Rocks and Minerals: A Gem of a Book and then discuss the kinds of rocks and minerals they collected from their mining activity. (See Physical Education activity) 2. Students will then do research on what it would be like to mine in the future. They will figure out if there will technology that does all the mining in the future rather than people doing the work. 3. They will write a letter to geologists about their findings, experience in the mines, what they learned about rocks and minerals, and how this information can help them with further investigations. Students will also share their findings on mining in the future and the answer to their math problem to argue about finding a way to make mining go faster. They will also state why it is important to find a way to make mining easier for miners.

Book List: Bredeson, C., & Cousins, L. (2012). Can You Find These Rocks? Enslow Publishers Inc. Dan Green, B. (2009). Basher Science: Rocks and Minerals: A Gem of a Book. Pellant, C. (2002). Rocks and Minerals Identification Book. DK Publishing. Scovil, J. P. (1998). A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Zoehfeld, K. W. (2012). Rocks and Minerals. National Geographic Soc Childrens books.