Layers of The Earth Unit Plan - University of Montana

Layers of Earth Unit Plan

Grade 4 Stacey Ellis Linderman Elementary School, Polson, MT

Unit Overview

The purpose of this unit is for students to gain conceptual understanding of Earth's internal structure. In addition, students will begin to develop their awareness of differing perspectives about people's relationship to the land. Students will engage in a variety of activities including research, creating models of Earth's layers, writing, and application of student knowledge by developing additional research questions for further inquiry and research.

Unit Objectives aligned with Montana Content Standards and Benchmark

1) Students will name Earth's layers and describe their characteristics individually and relative to the other layers. (MT Science 4,8,1)

2) Students will use reference materials to research a layer of Earth. (MT Science 1,4,1) 3) Students will investigate and compare models of Earth's internal structure. (MT Science

1,4,4) 4) Students will write a paragraph detailing their understanding of Earth's layers. (MT Science

4,8,1) 5) Students will develop questions about Earth's layers for further research and inquiry. (MT

Science 1,4,1) 6) Students will explore the cultural and geological history and the traditional place names in

Glacier National Park. (MT Science 4,8,7) 7) Students will use their observational skills to draw accurate sketches of geologic formations.

(MT Science 1, 4, 1) 8) Students will gain initial awareness of people's differing perspectives on their connections to

the land.

Time and Scheduling

Ten 30 to 60 minute lessons Two lessons are outside and are best done when the ground is not frozen. One all day field trip at the end of the unit, best done in late summer, early fall, or late spring.

Materials

Visual representation of Earth's layers Student Science Notebooks Chart paper and plain white drawing paper Markers, colored pencils, crayons Student Record Sheets Student Note taking templates Reference books

Student note taking templates Chocolate covered cherries 1 per student) Peaches (1 per two students) Baggies (1 per student) Paper plates and towels (1 per student) Plastic knives 100 meter measuring tape

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Wooden stakes Hammer Meter stick Sand

Spray paint or bright ribbon Clipboards Backpack

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Lesson One ? Tribal Member Guest Speaker

Summary of the Lesson

Students visit with a tribal elder and discuss the importance of land and place to local tribal cultures.

Grade Level 4th grade

Approximate Time Required

60 minutes

Lesson Objectives

1) Students will visit with a tribal community member about the significance of land and place from a tribal perspective.

2) Students will discuss and practice local tribal protocol. 3) Students will reflect on what they learned by writing about it in their journals.

Montana Science Content Standard and Benchmarks

Standard 4: Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate knowledge of the composition, structures, processes and interactions of Earth's systems and objects in space. Benchmark 7: Identify scientific theories about the origin and evolution of the earth and solar system.

Resources/materials needed

Tribal elder or other tribal community member guest A gift of appreciation for the guest List of traditional tribal place names for local sites Map of aboriginal territory and contemporary homeland for the guest's tribe with place markers indicating traditional and contemporary place names Student journals

Teacher Preparation

1) Invite a tribal elder or other tribal community member to visit with your class about the importance of place and the connection to the land in their culture. Ask the speaker to share their oral history of local sites and their traditional names, particularly for sites that might be familiar to students. Tell them that you have a classroom map on which you will label local the sites and their traditional place names. Have a comfortable place ready for the guest speaker to present from along with some type of beverage. Have a gift ready to present to the speaker after the presentation as a way of saying thank you.

2) Have students create place markers with traditional tribal place names. Place them on the map and discuss them briefly with students before or during the guest's visit. If they are visible from your local area (e.g., mountain peaks), take students outside and point out them

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out as you do this. If not, you may be able to find pictures of the sites that students can view. Google Earth could be used for this purpose. 3) Before the visit, talk with your students about the event, about local cultural protocol, and how to treat a guest politely and respectfully. Ask two students to greet the elder at the school door and direct them to the classroom. Ask two students to present the guest with a gift of appreciation after their visit. Demonstrate with students how to greet and thank elders. Background Information The guest speaker's presentation is an introduction to the layer's of Earth unit and ties in directly to Earth's crust. This presentation will assist students in gaining awareness of the significance of the land to local tribes from a tribal member's perspective. This theme will continue into future units on Earth's structure, for example, as students explore formations visible on Earth's crust. Procedure 1) Send the two "greeter" students to meet the guest at the school door. 2) Assemble the rest of the students in a comfortable area and invite the guest to join them. Introduce the guest to the class and explain why she or he has been invited into class. As the guest talks about local sites, point them out and place markers for the sites on the map. Allow time for students' questions and follow up discussion. 3) Thank the guest and ask two students to present the guest with a gift. 4) Ask students to reflect on what they learned by writing about it in their journals.

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Lesson Two- Before Paragraph - Assessment of Prior Knowledge

Summary of the lesson Students write a paragraph detailing what they already know about the layers of Earth using a visual of Earth's structure as a guide.

Grade Level 4th grade

Approximate Time Required 30 minutes

Lesson Objectives 1) Students will write a paragraph detailing what they already know about the layers of the earth using a visual. 2) Students will share and discuss information from their paragraphs.

Montana Science Content Standard and Benchmarks Standard 4: Students, through the inquiry process, demonstrate knowledge of the composition, structures, processes and interactions of Earth's systems and objects in space. Benchmark 1: Students will model and explain internal structures of the Earth

Resources/materials needed Large visual representation of Earth's layers Science notebooks or notebook paper for student paragraphs Chart paper to record student questions Markers for writing on the chart paper Copies of the assessment checklist (1/student)

Teacher Preparation 1) Prepare the lesson materials. 2) Update your understanding of Earth layers. Be prepared to answer questions such as: "How

do scientists know this information?", "What types of tests have scientists done to make these discoveries?", "How can scientists be sure this is true if they have never been to the layers furthest away from the crust?"

Procedure 1) Display visual representation of the layers of Earth so that all students can see it clearly. Lead

a brief discussion with the students having them describe what they see. 2) Give students five or ten minutes to write a paragraph about what they know about the center

of Earth, using the visual representation as a guide. This paragraph is called the "Before Paragraph."

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