Grade 4 Rocks and Minerals Unit

Da
y#

Lesson Title
Introduction
to Rocks and
Minerals:
Whats the
difference?

Review: What
is the
difference
between a
rock and a
mineral?
Rock
Formation
and Three
Types of
Rocks
Testing
Properties of
Minerals

Identify and
Classify
Minerals
Halfway
Activity: How
Minerals Make
Fossils
Make Your
Own Fossil

Lesson description
Teacher will introduce the unit of Rocks & Minerals. The
teacher will bring in samples of rocks from home for the
students to touch and feel. Students will watch the Bill Nye
video: Rocks and Soil. Teacher will demonstrate how a
mineral is a building block of a rock. A rock is made up of at
least two minerals. Teacher will demonstrate using Lego
or manipulatives. Students will create a mind-map of rocks
and minerals.
The class will create an anchor chart together reviewing the
information from last class. The anchor chart will be posted
on the wall for students reference in the future. The class
will be in partners or in groups of three. The teacher will
have pictures of different rocks and minerals. The students
will fill in a chart based on observations of the rocks. The
groups will then share with each other.
In partners brainstorm how rocks are made. Then share with
the class. Students will learn the different ways rocks are
formed, and how that affects the rocks appearance. The
three classes of rocks will be introduced: igneous,
metamorphic, and sedimentary, and characteristics of each
class will be examined. There is a Smart Board activity
attached to review.
Students will learn about the properties in minerals,
including hardness (introduce Mohs scale), colour (streak
test), texture (smooth, bumpy), lustre (shiny or dull),
magnetic, and electricity (conductivity test). Teacher will
model how to examine, describe, and record each of these
properties, so the students can do it on their own in the next
lesson.
Activity where students are given a variety of unlabeled
rocks and minerals and with a partner, they must classify
them by conducting a variety of tests to examine their
properties. They will record their observations and test
results in their chart.
Students will understand the process a fossil must complete
over time to become a fossilized rock. Using two slabs of
clay and an object to create a fossil.

OME
3.1

3.1
2.6

3.3
3.4
2.5

2.2
2.3
3.2
2.5
2.1

1.2

Cookie Mining
Activity
7

Everyday Use
of Rocks and
Minerals

10

Begin the
Summative
Task of a Rock
Collection
with a
partner.

11

Unit Review
Reducing
Environmenta
l Impact

12

Unit Quiz

In the Cookie Mining activity, students learn about the

economics of mining and reclamation by extracting
chocolate chips from cookies. Students will more closely
examine the costs and benefit of mining, as well as the
effect mining has on the environment.
Show examples of how we use rocks in our everyday lives.
Ask students to begin collecting rocks at home for the
summative task. Ask students to bring in egg cartons to
hold their rock collection.
Begin the summative task of a rock collection with partners.

1.1
1.2

2.4

1.1
2.4

Review everything they have learned in the unit up until this

point to prepare them for the unit test in one weeks time.
Provide them with a list of what is included on the test to
guide their study.
Through researching how rocks and minerals are used,
recycled, and disposed of, students will assess the costs and
benefits of using objects made from rocks and minerals.
They will develop a plan of action to reduce the waste of
that mineral and create a poster to display it.
Quiz on rocks and minerals.

Summative Task: Slideshow

Exit Card: describe what they learned after each station

1.1
2.4