4th Grade-Week 1 Earth Science Syllabus

Mr. Gantt’s Earth Science Lab

Weekly Lab Lessons and Homework

4^th Grade

Common Core Standards for 4th grade quarter

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2d Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1a Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion. 

http://www.corestandards.org/

1^st Lab Session Week

Concept: Observing Mock Rocks and Taking Them Apart

Investigation: How Are Rocks Different? What are the PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of rocks?

Reading Before Class: FOSS Science Resources pgs 179-189. Wonders CA Content Reader pgs 78-83.

Homework: Get parent letter signed and complete Week 1 worksheet.
CA Science Standards

4. The properties of rocks and minerals reflect the processes that formed them. As a basis for understanding this concept:

4b. Students know how to identify common rock-forming minerals (including quartz, calcite, feldspar, mica, and hornblende) and ore minerals by using a table of diagnostic properties.

6.Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

6a. Measure and estimate the weight, length, or volume of objects.

2^nd Lab Session Week

Concept: Observing Minerals

Investigation: How are minerals different? What is STREAK, LUSTER and HARDNESS?

Reading Before Class: FOSS Science Resources pgs 190-201 & 214-219.

NO Homework
CA Science Standards

4b. Students know how to identify common rock-forming minerals (including quartz, calcite, feldspar, mica, and hornblende) and ore minerals by using a table of diagnostic properties.

3^rd Lab Session Week

Concept: Three types of Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Investigation: What is the ROCK CYCLE? How are SEDIMENTARY, METAMORPHIC and IGNEOUS ROCKS made?

Reading Before Class: FOSS Science Resources pgs 220-227.

Homework: Review worksheet.
CA Science Standards

4a. Students know how to differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by referring to their properties and methods of formation (the rock cycle).

4^th Lab Session Week

Vocabulary Quiz

Concept: Movement of Continents

Investigation: How Has the Earth’s Surface Changed?

Reading Before Class: FOSS Science Resources pgs 228-231. Review Wonders CA Content Reader pgs 78-83.

NO Homework
CA Science Standards

5. Waves, wind, water, and ice shape and reshape Earth’s land surface. As a basis for understanding this concept:

5a. Students know some changes in the earth are due to slow processes, such as erosion, and some changes are due to rapid processes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

5^th Lab Session Week

Concept: What Processes Change Landforms? Part 1

Investigation: How Does Water Change Earth’s Surface?

Reading Before Class: FOSS Science Resources pgs 232-252 & 256-257. Wonders CA Content Reader pgs 84-89.

NO Homework
CA Science Standards

5a. Students know some changes in the earth are due to slow processes, such as erosion, and some changes are due to rapid processes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

5c. Students know 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 (weathering, transport, and deposition).

6c. Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships.

6d. Conduct multiple trials to test a prediction and draw conclusions about the relationships between predictions and results.

6f. Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation.

6^th Lab Session Week

Concept: What Processes Change Landforms? Part 2

Investigation: How Does Water Change Earth’s Surface?

Reading Before Class: Wonders CA Content Reader pgs 90-95.

Homework: Review worksheet

Study for the Vocabulary Quiz
CA Science Standards

5c. Students know 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 (weathering, transport, and deposition).

6c. Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships.

6d. Conduct multiple trials to test a prediction and draw conclusions about the relationships between predictions and results.

6f. Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation.

7^th Lab Session Week

Vocabulary Quiz

Concept: Can Plants Change the Land Around Us?

Investigation: How Do Plants Change Land?

NO Homework
CA Science Standards

5b. Students know natural processes, including freezing and thawing and the growth of roots, cause rocks to break down into smaller pieces.

EXTRA CREDIT!
Students can earn extra credit points throughout the quarter. Check this blog weekly to find out how.