Problem-Based Learning Lesson

Unit: Kindergarten Rocks!

Essential Question: What can we learn by collecting rocks from our school yard?

Day 1: Grabber and Introduction

15 Minutes in one class period

Introductory Grabber:

To begin the lesson, the teacher will tell the children that she/he has something hidden in her hand that is older than they are. In fact, it is older than the teacher, the school, their grandparents, etc. The teacher will tell students that object she/he is holding might even be hundreds of years old. Next, the teacher will ask students to make some predictions as to what they think the teacher might be holding. The teacher will then show the children that she is holding a rock and then read the story If You Find A Rock (Christian, Peggy, 2008).

Day 2: Culminating Activity

55 Minutes in one class period

Exploration Lab Investigation:

After a brief discussion about rocks, students will be invited to go on a rock hunt around the school grounds. Students will work with partners to find rocks. Students will be given the following items, prior to going outside:  safety goggles, an empty egg carton, and a plastic spoon for digging. Students will be encouraged to find twelve rocks, one rock for each section of their egg carton. Prior to leaving the classroom the teacher will establish the following norms for collecting rocks:

1) Students should not take rocks from the school’s landscaping.

2) Rocks selected must be able to fit in the egg cartons.

3) Students can use the plastic spoons to dig rocks, but they should replace the hole with the dirt that they dig. Students should leave the area as close to the way as they found it.

4) Students should not throw rocks.

5) Students should not break rocks.

6) Students should wear safety goggles at all times.

Lab Investigation: Upon returning to the classroom, give students time to observe their rocks with hand lenses and discuss their findings with their partners. Encourage students to describe the attributes of their rocks such as size, color, shape, etc. Next, give students a copy of the Kindergarten Rocks Lab Sheet, pencils, crayons, or markers. Ask students to select one rock from their collection to complete their lab sheet by drawing a picture of their rock, trying to make it the same color and size as the rock they found on the schoolyard. Then provide paper clips for students to make a non-standard measurement of their rock and record how many paper clips they used. Students will complete their lab sheets by sorting their rocks by lighter or heavier and tally how many they have of each.

Explanation:

The teacher will debrief students by asking the questions below:

1) In what part of the school yard did you find your rock?

2) Were there other rocks around that were like it?

3) Is your rock heavy or light?

4) How would you describe your rock?

5) What can we learn about the rocks in our school yard by looking at our rock collections?  Do we need more information?

Evaluation/Formative Assessment Task:

The teacher will evaluate each student using this template.

Learning Tasks:

Knowledge: Students will recognize and name earth materials such as rocks, sand, pebbles, or soil.

Reasoning: Students will understand that many rocks have similar characteristics and attributes such as size, shape, color, or texture.

Performance: Students will sort objects that have similar characteristics such as the attributes of size, shape, color or texture.

Produce: Students will complete their Kindergarten Rocks Lab Sheet.  They will draw a picture of their rock and measure their rock with paper clips.