ROCK AND ROLL
Source: www.coreknowledge.org
Topic: Rock and Roll
Sort Desciption: ROCK AND ROLL. Grade Level: 4. th. Grade. Presented by: Diane C. Moses, Travis Elementary School, San Antonio, TX. Length of Unit: Seven Lessons ...
Content Inside: ROCK AND ROLL Grade Level: 4 th Grade Presented by: Diane C. Moses, Travis Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Length of Unit: Seven Lessons 1. ABSTRACT Designed to complement textbook curriculum, this unit uses simulations and models to investigate convection currents moving crustal plates, earthquakes and volcanoes. Students observe currents and the movement of floating objects resulting from convection, then relate this to the movement of crustal plates. Earthquakes are simulated and damage to models representing buildings is recorded and analyzed. Using a model of a seismograph, the intensity of simulated earthquakes is recorded. Finally, after volcanic action is demonstrated, students compare the results of cooling a model of lava quickly or slowly, and apply their results to physical properties observed in igneous rocks. 2. OVERVIEW A. Major concepts: the crust of the earth consists of plates that move upon the mantle; volcanoes and earthquakes change the shape of the land and affect human structures, and igneous rocks are formed from magma and lava and their properties depend upon how they are formed. 2. Core Knowledge Sequence includes movement of crustal plates, earthquakes, volcanoes, and formation and characteristics of igneous rock. 3. Skill taught is the use of models; skills used by students include observing, collecting and analyzing data, comparing and contrasting, making inferences and drawing conclusions. III. BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE 3. Geological time is difficult for elementary students to understand and most elementary students are unable to visit the site of an earthquake or volcano, so models and simulations are used to help students develop a conceptual base. I recommend Gunter, Estes & Schwab=s Instruction: A Models Approach (1995) to develop questioning strategies and teaching models around the use of these simulations. Models, however, can be misleading and their strengths and weaknesses must be identified for the stude ...
rockandroll