LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Sampling rocks

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=110

A lesson plan for Grades K–2 Science and Mathematics

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

About this resource

Appropriate grades
K–2
Provider
American Association for the Advancement of Science

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The purpose of this Science NetLinks lesson is for students to learn about sampling through an investigation of rocks found in the schoolyard. In grades K-2, learning can begin that will eventually lead to students' having a good grasp of everyday statistics.

In this lesson, students collect and analyze a sampling of rocks from the schoolyard. Students array the collected rocks by characteristics such as size, weight, and color, to see if any generalizations can be made about the types of rocks that can be found in the schoolyard. Students are introduced to the notion of a sample, and how the size and method of collection of a sample can bias findings.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will use non-standard units of measure and tell time.
    • Objective 2.01: For given objects:
      • Select an attribute (length, capacity, mass) to measure (use non-standard units).
      • Develop strategies to estimate size.
      • Compare, using appropriate language, with respect to the attribute selected.

Grade 2

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Estimate and measure using appropriate units.
      • Length (meters, centimeters, feet, inches, yards).
      • Temperature (Fahrenheit).

Kindergarten

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will explore concepts of measurement.
    • Objective 2.01: Compare attributes of two objects using appropriate vocabulary (color, weight, height, width, length, texture).

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will make observations and use student-made rules to build an understanding of solid earth materials.
    • Objective 2.01: Describe and sort a variety of earth materials based on their properties:
      • Color.
      • Hardness.
      • Shape.
      • Size.
    • Objective 2.02: Describe rocks and other earth materials in more than one way, using student-made rules.

Kindergarten

  • Goal 3: The learner will make observations and build an understanding of the properties of common objects.
    • Objective 3.02: Develop and use a vocabulary associated with the properties of materials:
      • Color.
      • Size.
      • Shape.
      • Texture.