Lesson 1 - 3 investigative sheets and supplemental material - PDF

Lesson 1 - Water

• Investigation Charts:  Water

Investigation A: Pre-Unit Assessment: What Do We Know About Earth’s Materials?

• Watch Phenomena Video (3:00)

• Complete Investigation Chart

Investigation B: Where’s the Water?

• Read pages 3, 4, & 5 in Student Reader (digital / interactive  online version available)

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Color "Where's the Water"

Investigation C: How Does Water Change on Earth? (water cycle) (2 days with experiment)

• Discuss Precipitation, Evaporation, and Condensation (investigation chart)

• Water Cycle - SciShow Kids - YouTube 4:21

• Water Cycle Song - YouTube 3:41

• Complete "What did I learn" sheet

• ice cube experiment with sheets (2nd day is needed)

Investigation D: How Much of Earth Is Water and How Much Is Land? (2 days)

• Read page 2 of Student Reader

• Color earth map - water / land

Day 2

• Cut up map to fit into graph 

Lesson 2 - Rocks

• Investigation Charts:  Rocks

• Magic School Bus: Rocks and Rolls - TeacherTube 35:00

Investigation A: What Can We Learn by Studying Rocks? (2 days)

Day 1

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Read page 6 of Student Reader  (digital / interactive  online version available)

• And / Or - Read: "My Time Machine"

Day 2

• Observe rock samples with hand lenses

• Complete investigation sheet 2A:  What can I learn by studying rocks?

Investigation B: Can I Make a Claim About How Landforms Change?

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Complete investigation sheet 2B:  Can I Make a Claim About How Landforms Change?

Lesson 3 - Sand

• Investigation Charts:  Sand

• 20 best sandcastles - YouTube: 4:22

• How to make a nice sandcastle - YouTube: 7:22

Investigation A: What Can We Learn by Studying Sand?

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Examine (with hand lenses) the difference between sand and gravel.

• Complete investigation sheet 3A:  Breaking Down Earth's Materials.

Investigation B: How Can Water Change Sand?

• Begin Investigation Chart

• Demonstrate erosion by dribbling water over moist sand

• Complete Investigation Chart

Investigation C: How Can Wind Change Sand?

• Begin Investigation Chart (supplement with Sheet 3C1)

• Demonstrate moving sand by blowing on dry sand with a straw

• (supplement with Sheet 3C2)

• Demonstrate how "vegetation" (paper strips) and moist sand can stop sand from moving

• Complete Investigation Chart

Investigation D: Can We Design a Barrier to Reduce Wind Erosion?

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Using Investigation Sheet 3D,  discuss ways to stop sand from moving  then designing and build a barrier

Lesson 4-6  investigative sheets and supplemental material - PDF

Lesson 4 - Soil

• Investigation Charts:  Soil

Investigation A: What Makes Up Soil?

• Complete Investigation Chart - Phenomenon / Invest. A

• Examine a cup of soil up close.

• Share Teacher Sheet 4A: Soil Profile - discuss.

Investigation B: What Can We Learn by Studying Soil?  (2 days)

Day 1

• Look closely at a cup of soil and a cup of sand.

• Complete 1st part of Investigation Chart.

• Supplement with Investigation Sheet 4B

Day 2

• Wet down the soil.  Complete the 2nd part of the Investigation Chart.

• Supplement with Investigation Sheet 4B

• Read page 7 of Student Reader  (digital / interactive  online version available)

Supplemental:  All About Soil - YouTube 13:00

Investigation C: How Can Wind and Water Affect Soil?

• Complete Investigation Chart 

• Literacy Page 4C: Reducing Soil Erosion

Lesson 5 - Changing Earth / Land

• Investigation Charts: Changing Land

• Play: Landform or Body of Water

Investigation A: How Do Glaciers Change Land?

• Begin Investigation Chart - Phenomenon / Invest. A

• Supplement:  Investigation Sheet 5A

Experiment Time

• Demonstrate ice moving down sand

• Finish Investigation Chart and / or Sheet 5A

Moving Glacier - Time Lapse:  YouTube 3:46

How Glaciers move land: YouTube 2:30

Investigation B: How Do Rivers Change Land?

• Begin Investigation Chart

• Supplement:  Investigation Sheet 5B

Experiment Time

• Demonstrate water (river) changing  sand

• Finish Investigation Chart and / or Sheet 5B

Investigation C: How Do Earth’s Natural Processes Change Land? (2 days)

Day 1

• Read pages 8 - 12 of Student Reader  (digital / interactive  online version available)

Day 2

• Complete Investigation Chart 

• Play Landform or Body of Water

Lesson 6 - My Model Island

Investigation Charts:  My Model Island

Kahoot: Earth Materials

Investigation A: Can I Make a Model to Show What I Have Learned? (3 days)

Day 1

• Share Phenomenon video (Carolina Science Online)

• Begin Investigation Chart

• Hand out Sheet 6A to each student - complete Part A (through #4)

Day 2

• Continue Investigation Chart

• Continue Sheet 6A - complete Part B: Design (draw island - label parts: show building ideas in Investigation Chart for vocabulary)

Day 3

• Part C - Build Island (MUST be completed in one class period - play-dough will harden).

Investigation B: What Can I Share About My Model Island? (2 days)

Day 1

• Use Sheet 6B to write what you want to share about your island.

Day 2

• Share your island.

Investigation C: What Have I Learned About Earth’s Materials?

• Summative Assessment

• Complete Investigation Chart

• Kahoot

Cycles in Nature

End of unit riddles

End of unit review