| SOLID EARTH MODULE MATRIX |
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SYNOPSIS |
CA SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS
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1. |
MOCK ROCKS |
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Students record observations of
mock rocks. They take the rocks
apart and sort ingredients. They
place some rock material in water,
evaporate the liquid, and identify the
crystals that form. Students learn
that rocks are made of minerals. |
ES4b Identify common rock-forming minerals
and ore minerals by using a table of
diagnostic properties.
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I&E6a Differentiate observation from
inference.
I&E6b Measure/estimate properties of
objects.
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2. |
SCRATCH TEST |
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Students investigate four unknown
minerals and use the property
of hardness to make confident
identification of the rock-forming
minerals. Students learn one
important diagnostic property of
minerals. |
ES4b Identify common rock-forming minerals
and ore minerals by using a table of
diagnostic properties.
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I&E6f Follow written instructions. |
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3. |
CALCITE QUEST |
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Students investigate the mineral
calcite and its special property of
reacting in vinegar. They place
four rock samples in vinegar and
look for evidence that calcite is an
ingredient. Students are introduced
to common sedimentary and
metamorphic rocks. |
ES4a Differentiate among igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks by referring to
their properties and methods of formation.
ES4b Identify common rock-forming minerals
and ore minerals by using a table of
diagnostic properties.
|
I&E6a Differentiate observation from
inference. |
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4. |
TAKE IT FOR GRANITE |
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Students investigate more mineral
properties—streak and luster—and
use a diagnostic table to identify
several unknown minerals.
Students are introduced to the rock
cycle and the processes that form
the three types of rocks. |
ES4a Differentiate among igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks by referring to their
properties and methods of formation.
ES4b Identify common rock-forming minerals
and ore minerals by using a table of
diagnostic properties.
|
I&E6a Differentiate observation from
inference.
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5. |
LANDFORMS |
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Students investigate chemical
weathering by soaking limestone in
vinegar, and physical weathering
by shaking granite in a jar. They
investigate erosion and deposition
in a stream table. They learn about
processes that cause rapid changes
to Earth’s surface—earthquakes,
volcanism, landslides, and floods. |
ES5a Some changes in the earth are due to
slow processes and some changes are
due to rapid processes.
ES5b Natural processes cause rocks to break
down into smaller pieces.
ES5c Moving water erodes landforms,
reshaping the land by taking it away
from some places and depositing it as
pebbles, sand, silt, and mud in other
places.
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I&E6b Measure/estimate properties of objects.
I&E6c Formulate/justify predictions.
I&E6d Conduct multiple trials/draw
conclusions.
I&E6f Follow written instructions.
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