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PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY

Throughout this lesson students make detailed observations of rocks. Through their observations, students will begin to develop an understanding that there are many types of rocks with a multitude of different attributes. Students will be fascinated with many aspects of rocks, such as how some sparkle; some are dark while others are light; there are smooth ones and bumpy ones. Some may quickly recognize that one rock is shaped like an egg while another one seems sharp enough to cut like a tool. Their curiosity about rocks will fuel their discussions and explorations in class. The student sheet will extend their explorations by encouraging them to consider how they can accurately portray their rocks through a drawing. Students also measure the circumference and weigh their rocks, giving them an opportunity to think about how they can describe their rocks in quantitative terms.

The scientific inquiry skills developed through this lesson are appropriate for students in grades K-3. The earth science aspects of the lesson are aligned with Ohio's science standards for grade 3. (author/ts)

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
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OHIO STANDARDS
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Science Academic Content Standards
Earth and Space Sciences
Scientific Inquiry
Technology Standards
Technology and Information Literacy
NATIONAL STANDARDS
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National Science Education Standards
Science as Inquiry
Earth and Space Science
RESOURCE TYPE
Instructional Resource
PRACTICE LEVEL
Best Practice
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Grades PreK–3
TOPICS
Science --
Science and Inquiry;
Inquiry Process Skills;
Earth and Space Science;
Earth Systems;
Rocks, Minerals, Soil;
FOUND IN
KEYWORDS
observation;
data collection;
cooperative group;
rocks;
identification;
geology;
sorting;
measurement;
hand lens;
estimation;
Internet;
data
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science