K5 Science Endorsement GPS Lesson Plan

Stem-Vertical Alignment

Title Rocks and Minerals

Teacher(s) Purity Kamau
E-mail Purity.kamau@cobbk12.org
School Brumby Elementary
Lesson Title Mineral Display Case
Grade Level 3rd Concepts(s) Physical attributes of rocks and
Targeted minerals

Performance Expectation
Students will investigate the physical attributes of mineral
Recognize the physical attributes of rocks and minerals using observation (shape, color, texture)
and simple test (hardness)
Create a display case for a mineral

Science & Engineering Disciplinary Core Ideas Crosscutting Concept

Practice (Content)

Analyzing and Interpreting S3E1. Obtain, evaluate, and Patterns

Data
Obtaining, Evaluating, and
Communicating Information
communicate information
about the physical attributes Structure and Function
of rocks soils.
a. Ask questions and analyze
data to classify rocks by their
physical attributes (shape,
color, texture, luster, and
hardness) using simple tests.

Georgia Performance Standard

S3E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the physical attributes of rocks
soils.
a. Ask questions and analyze data to classify rocks by their physical attributes (shape, color,
texture, luster, and hardness) using simple tests.

MGSE3.MD.5 Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area
measurement.

Safety Considerations
 Have students wear goggles if there is any risk of materials breaking or shattering.
 Students also need to work on a flat surface to ensure the safety of everyone in the
group.

The Learning Plan

Title of the Lesson: Mineral Display Case
Lesson Logistics:
Students will be engaged by listening to the teacher read the short synopsis for Julie the
Rockhound. They will describe the attributes of candies and those of a given mineral. The
challenge will be presented to them and they will brainstorm, design, create and evaluate their
work. This shall be teams. Students will be required to share their idea with team members and
with the whole class.

Materials:
Minerals, streak plates, various types of candy, cardboard boxes/cereal boxes, construction
paper, scissors, glue and tape, markers, popsicle sticks, rulers and clay or play dough
Book : Julie the Rockhound by Gail Langer Karwoski

Essential Questions
How can I recognize the physical attributes of rocks and minerals?
How can I calculate the area of a rectangle?

Opening/Engage- Day 1

Show the class various types of candy. Pick up one piece, open it and ask the class to describe it
to you: What flavor is it? What is its size? What shape is it? Is it hard or soft. Explain to the class
that they just described the physical attributes of the candy. Display a few more candies for
them to compare and see how unique each one is. Display a mineral and let the students
describe its shape, color and feel its texture. Review how to test on Moh’s Scale

Introduce the challenge to the class:

Challenge: Your class has been asked by the Tellus Science Museum to create new display cases
explaining the physical attributes of minerals. As a team you will need to create a display case
for one mineral. The case must be covered with a see-through material and you will need to
explain the mineral’s shape, color, texture, luster, and hardness. Your display case must have a
minimum of 6 compartments/spaces and you will need to calculate the area of your display
case. Show students an example of a mineral display case.

Imagine/Brainstorm

Students will brainstorm possible solutions to the problem. They will then sketch two ideas and
then share it with their group members. Students will complete the ask/engage part on their
student journal

Criteria:
 Create a minimum of 6 compartments in your display case
 Front of display case must be see through (transparent)
 You must explain how to recognize the physical attributes of the mineral
 You must calculate the area of your display case

Constraints:
 Use the materials provided
 Complete the challenge within the time allotted.
 Plan/Design – Day 2

 Revisit the challenge from yesterday.

 Each student will present their ideas to their team.
 Teams will collaborate and decide on a final design plan.
 Students will then draw and label their final design plan and make a list of needed
supplies.
Students should begin researching properties of the mineral they are assigned to explain the
mineral’s shape, color, texture, luster, and hardness to present next to their display case.

Create / Test- Day 3

Review the criteria and constraints with the class once again. Student teams will build their
design according to their design plan.

Closing/Culminating Activity-Day 4

The teams will test their design and record what happens on their recording sheet.
Did their design work? Why or why not?
Volunteers share out reasons why or why not their structure worked.
Students will gather back into their groups and improve their designs.
Students can take a gallery walk of all the different mineral display cases located around the

Documentation of Resources

Book : Julie the Rockhound by Gail Langer Karwoski

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7C5SD14Hw
https://cobbteachingandlearningsystem.cobbk12.org/GetFile.aspx?f=314c98aa-58b7-
4bea-8f6a-12ac1dc9a0f5&t=v

https://cobbteachingandlearningsystem.cobbk12.org/GetFile.aspx?f=a379966a-3322-
48a1-a3c2-51c22640b8f2&t=v