Wesleyan College Lesson Plan Template - Revised 4/17/13

Educating Exemplary Teachers

Lauren N. Graniela
Tuesday, October 8th, 2012
Lesson 1 Describing rocks & Minerals Content Literacy & Adjectives
6th Grade
30-45mins
EDR 390

Rationale / Purpose for Lesson:

Review and application of adjectives to describe rock and mineral
characteristics.
Preparation for next lesson, comparing descriptions with content text, and
applying mineral identification properties.

Summary of Lesson:
Review what adjectives are, then practicing use of adjectives to describe rocks
and minerals observed.

STANDARDS
SUBJECT AREA STANDARDS
IRA/NCTE/NSTA/NCTM/NCSS
(Circle the one that applies)
NCTE / IRA
3. Students apply a wide range of
strategies to comprehend, interpret,
evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw
on their prior experience, their
interactions with other readers and
writers, their knowledge of word
meaning and of other texts, their word
identification strategies, and their
understanding of textual features (e.g.,
sound-letter correspondence, sentence
structure, context, graphics).

GEORGIA COMMON CORE

STANDARDS OR GEORGIA
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. GPS: Recognizes basic parts of a
sentence (subject, verb, direct object,
indirect object, predicate noun,
predicate adjective).

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS (NETS)

NA

Learner Outcomes / Objectives

Stem: Students will be able to. . .
a. list adjectives
b. elaborate on adjective list

ASSESSMENTS/ EVALUATIONS
a. after examination of rocks and minerals,
write description, and
b. Think, pair, share: partner-up to extend
their list of adjective. Extension written in a
different color

RESOURCES/MATERIALS/SETTING, AND GROUPS

1. McDougal Littell. (2005). Earths Surface. Houton Mifflin Company. Evanston, IL.
2. Collection of Rocks & Minerals, this particular collection includes: Obsidian, Granite, Coal,
Selenite, Kyenite, Mica, Quartz, Blue Quartz, Milky Quartz, Amethyst, Pyrite, Garnet
3. Adjectives to describe Rocks & Minerals chart
4. Pencil and array of colored writing utensil (marker/pen/colored pencil)
MOTIVATION Opening (Motivation/Anticipatory Set/Hook/Building/Activating Schema):
Today we will become geologist! We will observe and write descriptions of some rocks and
minerals.

PROCEDURES OF THE LESSON

1. Activation: What are adjectives? Lets make a list of some examples on the board
An object can be the focus of description if the students list is meager. Instructor can
model, listing appropriate adjectives describing object.
2. Modeling:
Each of you will receive 3 rocks or minerals to describe. We will use one word
adjectives, or descriptive phrases describing COLOR, LUSTER, HARDNESS, and any
other attributes. I will model and example for you
Instructor chooses a rock/mineral to demonstrate a think aloud; speaking and writing the
observations made.
3. Distribute Materials:
Each student receives 3 rocks/minerals and an Adjectives to describe Rocks &
Minerals chart.
4. Think:
You will each have 5mins to describe these objects. Once you have finished I will pair
you up with a classmate to share descriptions with.
2

5. Pair:
Once students complete their descriptions they will be paired up, the students are to read
their list to their partner. If a student wishes to use a partners descriptive word, they
may add to the list with a different colored writing utensil
6. Share:
Now we can share some of our favorite adjectives. Maybe a word you like the sound
of, or a word you learned from you partner.
List the words the students share on the board
ACCOMMODATION/MODIFICATION/DIFFERENTIATION
If learners need assistance appropriate, we may refer to Earths Surface, Chapter 2:
Minerals, Section 2.2: A mineral is identified by its properties
Closure:
If you see any words on the board that you didnt use, write down the list on the back of your
sheet; they will be useful for our next activity.
HOMEWORK:
NA