My 5th grade students are an energetic group of caring and curious young people. They come from varied backgrounds and are being raised in a small, rural community far from the opportunities and diverse experiences of a more urban location. They work hard and strive to make themselves better.
The sparkle in their eyes really shines when we talk about and do science.
They love to talk about science, and they love it when they have an opportunity for a hands on activity. My students find success when we do STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) exercises because learning always takes place; in fact, sometimes more learning takes place with what appears to be a failed attempt! They have been thoroughly engaged and have thrived in the teamwork environment for each of the 6 or 7 STEM exercises we have done already this year.
My Project
These resources will provide a great introductory experience to the rock cycle. We talk about the rock cycle and read about it, but now students will get to put the different rocks in their hands and learn about the different characteristics of rocks.
Students will use the rock kits to determine hardness, to look at luster, and understand rock cleavage.
They will use the materials to learn to identify different kinds of rocks like sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. Students will also learn to recognize the minerals that make up the different kinds of rock.
My hope is to help them take a deeper, more meaningful look around themselves and have a hands-on knowledge to continue learning about rocks.
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