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Contents

• Introduction
• Kit Topics
• Objectives
• Themes and Concepts
• District Standards
• Assessment

Introduction

The Pebbles, Sand and Silt unit is a Full Option Science System (FOSS) kit created by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. It is published and marketed by Delta Education.

The four activities in this module introduce students to several kinds of rocks. Students sort, wash, compare and seriate rocks. They separate mixtures of rocks with screens and investigate clay and soil. After students have had many experiences with these earth materials, they participate in projects that demonstrate how people use earth materials in their daily lives.

Kit Topics

Activity 1: First Rocks

Part 1: Three Rocks

Part 2: Washing Three Rocks

Part 3: First Sorting

Part 4: Sorting Games

Part 5: Starting a Rock Collection

Activity 2: River Rocks

Part 1: Screening River Rocks

Part 2: River Rocks by Size

Part 3: Sand and Silt

Part 4: Exploring Clay

Activity 3: Using Rocks

Part 1: Looking at Sand Paper

Part 2: Sand Sculptures

Part 3: Clay Beads

Part 4: Rocks in Use

Part 5: Making Bricks

Activity 4: Soil Explorations

Part 1: Homemade Soil

Part 2: Soil Search

Part 3: Studying Local Soil

Objectives

Students are expected to:

• develop a growing curiosity and interest in the physical world around them.
• observe, describe, and sort earth materials based on properties.
• separate earth materials by size using different techniques.
• observe the similarities and differences in the materials in a river rock mixture: silt, sand, gravel, and small and large pebbles.
• explore places where earth materials are found and ways that earth materials are used.
• compare the ingredients in different soils.
• acquire the vocabulary associated with earth materials.
• Gain early experiences that will contribute to their understanding of several pervasive themes that relate one scientific idea to another: Structure, Change, and Interaction.
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Themes and Concepts

Activity 1: First Rocks

Themes:

• Structure
• Change
• Interaction

Concepts:

• Rocks are the solid portion of the earth.
• Rocks can be sorted into groups by properties, including color, shape, and texture.
• Rocks can be broken into smaller pieces.
• Rocks change appearance when wet.

Activity 2: River Rocks

Themes:

• Structure
• Change
• Interaction

Concepts:

• Rocks can be found in many different places.
• Rock sizes can be separated with screens and by settling in water.
• Silt and clay have different properties.

Activity 3: Using Rocks

Themes:

• Structure
• Change

Concept:

• Earth materials can be used in a variety of constructions.

Activity 4: Soil Explorations

Themes:

• Structure
• Interaction

Concepts:

• Soil is made up of a combination of materials, including different-sized particles of rock and humus.
• Soil differs from one location to another.

District Standards

 The Pebbles, Sand and Silt kit meets the following District Standards:

Standard 1. Students understand the processes of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations. (1.a., 1.d.)

Standard 2. Students know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy. (2.1.a., 2.1.c., 2.2.a., 2.3.c. )

Standard 4. Students know and understand the processes and interactions of Earth's system, and the structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space. (4.1.a., 4.3.b.)

Standard 5 Students know and understand interrelationships among science, technology and human activity and how they can effect the world. (5.a., 5.d.)

Standard 6. Students understand that science involves a particular way of knowing and understand common connections among scientific disciplines. (6.a.,6.d.) 

Assessment

Teacher Observation

1. clipboard "cruising" using the FOSS labels
2. informal anecdotal information

Cumulative Portfolio of Student Work

1. student writings, drawing, pictures, collages, and FOSS worksheets
2. student "homework" contributions
3. student constructions (photos)

FOSS Assessment Chart (See "Assessment" folio in teacher guide.)

1. Separates a Rock Mixture (Activity 2, River Rocks, p. 15): uses shaking, uses screens, uses water
2. Earth Materials in Vials (Activity 2, River Rocks, p. 15): similarities, differences
3. Bottle Drawing (Activity 2, River Rocks, p. 15): produces labels, produces descriptions
4. How People Use Earth Materials (Activity 3, Using Rocks, p. 14): names 1 or 2, names 2 or 4 ways
5. How to Make Soil (Activity 4, Soil Explorations, p. 15): describes, writes and/or draws observations
6. Narrative Report - Teachers can use this FOSS form to send home to parents. It provides a Summary of Activities, followed by a space for teachers to add their own personalized comments, if they wish.

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