Rockin' Inside the Earth: A Rocks and Soil Thematic Unit Grades 1-3
One of my favorite thematic units is teaching about rocks and volcanoes. My students learn so much from this unit and it is jammed packed full of engaging, hands on activities that will spark their interest. I usually teach this thematic unit in the spring, but there are bits and pieces of it that I teach through out the year. I can't wait to share with you some of the great activities that I've created for this unit! It includes lesson plans with mentor texts, craftivities, interactive notebooks, poetry, vocabulary cards and science experiments. So, let's go rock hunting!
I've created 17 days of lesson plans with mentor texts, materials, directions, and examples. They are very user friendly and easy to follow.
I've created many craftivities that include building the layers of the earth with play-do, an edible dirt cup, painting a pet rock, the parts of a volcano, a rock cycle spinner, sorting the three types of rocks and living on landforms. Each craftivity also has a writing template to extend the lesson if you wish.
The edible dirt cup is so easy! Just layer your cup starting with chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, green coconut and on the top put gummy worms! The students will LOVE this! This is such a fun and easy way to teach the layers of the soil.
Creating the layers of the earth is also fun! All you need is red, yellow, green and blue play-do. Show your students how to roll a small red ball of play-do and then layer the other colors on top starting with yellow, then green, then blue. With a couple inches of floss, slice the ball in half and open up the ball to show the layers inside. This is so cool and amazing. What a great way to learn about the core, mantle and crust!
I've also created lesson plans for science experiments. My favorite one is the erupting volcano. This is so easy to do. All you need is vinegar and baking soda. I like to use the yellow solo cups and cut out a hole at the bottom of them. I put a baby food jar inside the solo cup with a teaspoon of baking soda. Make sure to put them inside a plastic bowl, so when the eruption happens, it will not go everywhere! Students will pour about 2 tablespoons of vinegar really fast and see how the baking soda erupts like a volcano. This is so fun and the students LOVE it!
I've created anchor charts for the layers of the soil and of the types of landforms.
One of my favorite thematic units is teaching about rocks and volcanoes. My students learn so much from this unit and it is jammed packed full of engaging, hands on activities that will spark their interest. I usually teach this thematic unit in the spring, but there are bits and pieces of it that I teach through out the year. I can't wait to share with you some of the great activities that I've created for this unit! It includes lesson plans with mentor texts, craftivities, interactive notebooks, poetry, vocabulary cards and science experiments. So, let's go rock hunting!
I've created 17 days of lesson plans with mentor texts, materials, directions, and examples. They are very user friendly and easy to follow.
I've created many craftivities that include building the layers of the earth with play-do, an edible dirt cup, painting a pet rock, the parts of a volcano, a rock cycle spinner, sorting the three types of rocks and living on landforms. Each craftivity also has a writing template to extend the lesson if you wish.
The edible dirt cup is so easy! Just layer your cup starting with chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, green coconut and on the top put gummy worms! The students will LOVE this! This is such a fun and easy way to teach the layers of the soil.
Creating the layers of the earth is also fun! All you need is red, yellow, green and blue play-do. Show your students how to roll a small red ball of play-do and then layer the other colors on top starting with yellow, then green, then blue. With a couple inches of floss, slice the ball in half and open up the ball to show the layers inside. This is so cool and amazing. What a great way to learn about the core, mantle and crust!
Oh how I love Pet Rocks! How fun and super easy too. Ask your students to bring in a small rock that they have found at home. Put out some tempera paint with different sized brushes and paper plates for each table group. After the paint dries, students can glue on their googly eyes. These pet rocks can sit on the students' desk during your unit and then take them home! The students can also complete an interactive notebook page about their pet rock's properties.
I've also created lesson plans for science experiments. My favorite one is the erupting volcano. This is so easy to do. All you need is vinegar and baking soda. I like to use the yellow solo cups and cut out a hole at the bottom of them. I put a baby food jar inside the solo cup with a teaspoon of baking soda. Make sure to put them inside a plastic bowl, so when the eruption happens, it will not go everywhere! Students will pour about 2 tablespoons of vinegar really fast and see how the baking soda erupts like a volcano. This is so fun and the students LOVE it!
Another science investigation is observing different types of rocks. I have these AWESOME rock kits that we ordered many years ago and they have the different rocks labeled and a short blurb about each one. I have a class set of these so each student can be a rock hound! I've also created a template for the students to record their information and illustrate their rocks.
I've also created some interactive notebook activities for poetry, math and science.
I've created anchor charts for the layers of the soil and of the types of landforms.
I also use vocabulary cards to help my students learn new academic vocabulary. I display these on my chart stand, pocket chart and even in my theme center!
And, speaking of my theme center... this is where I display posters of rocks and volcanoes and put all different kinds of rocks on display for my students to observe and write about. I also put out rock games, activities and books to read.
I hope you have gotten some great ideas about how to teach your rocks and soil unit. If you're interested in checking out my packet, click below.
Love, Kara
