Name: We Will Rock You/ Three types of Rock Layers

Subject: Science
Grade Level: 4th

1. Standards (CA Common Core Standards; NGSS/Content Standards)

NGSS Standard: 4-ESS1
Common Core Standard: Earth Science 4.4a

2. Objectives
 Content: The students will learn about the three main types of rocks by core sampling
a layered cake representing the three main types of rock (igneous, metamorphic, and
sedimentary), observing the layers and their properties and state their knowledge
about the rock properties in a CER format.

 Language/Key Vocabulary: Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, and Core Sampling

3. Assessment
 Informal or Formative: Having students discuss their prior rock knowledge with
the class (oldest to newest layers, density, how they are formed, types of rocks,
examples of rocks, characteristics of rocks).
 Formal or Summative: Students will fill out a rock cake layer worksheet (attached)
with their claim of rock type, their observed evidence, and reasoning.

4. Instructional Strategies and Learning Tasks

I. Anticipatory Set
 Motivation: Show slideshow of various rock formations, both natural and altered
by man. Ask what these things have in common (they are all made of rocks)
 Activate Prior Knowledge: Ask students if they know about rocks and can name
any examples, characteristics, or examples of the three types of rock.
o Metamorphic-Changed
o Sedimentary-Layered
o Igneous-Volcanic

II. Instruction and Modeling

 Play video animation song that explains the different types of rock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haOb8GbXuB0
 Explain and give details about what characteristics showing visual example of each
type and highlighting the features of:
o Metamorphic-Changed
 Examples - Marble, Slate, Gneiss, and Quartzite
 Characteristics - Changed by heat and pressure, sometimes split into
many layers that look like a stack of pancakes with different mineral
grains running through the rock.
o Sedimentary-Layered
  Examples – Sandstone, chalk, rock salt, flint, limestone, and iron ore
 Characteristics – Often formed from mud or sand settling at the bottom
of water. The rocks may contain fossils, have wavy horizontal lines,
layers, or grains you can see or be dusty.
o Igneous-Volcanic
 Examples – Lava Rock, Granite, Quarts, Basalt, Obsidian, Peridotite
 Characteristics- Formed from cooled lava. May have crystals, air
bubbles, or a glassy surface. They can also appear hard and dense.
 Have students fill out the “Three Main Types of Rock” worksheet (attached) as I
give the lesson so they can refer back to it.
o Pair share what they think an example of this type of rock would be.
o Share out with class with CER language
 Ex. I think pumice is an igneous rock because it has a lot of holes in it.
This means that it was formed by lava that cooled very quickly so there
are visible air holes left in it.
 Go back to the rock formations during the MOTIVATION SECTION and try to
determine what kind of rocks they are based on the information learned and their
completed worksheet.
 Tell students about core sampling and the layers
o Ask: How do you think scientists discover information about the various
layers of rocks?
o What about if rocks are deep underground?
o Discuss core sampling
o Demonstrate core sampling with the cake and show the layers.
o a couple of examples.
 Bring cake out and core sample it to show the different layers and features to try
and categorize them based on what we have learned.

III. Guided Practice

 Have students core sample the cake and take to their desk with their completed
worksheet AND a blank CER formatted worksheet to analyze their core sample
(attached)
 Move around to check each student as they work and complete their worksheet to
make sure the lesson was effective.

IV. Closure (student summary of learning)

 Have the students partner share the three main types of rock and one characteristic
for each type or rock.

V. Independent Practice (summative assessment)

 Have the students display their worksheet that they completed for the layered cake
with their observations, claims, evidence, and reasoning for each layer and then
have them do a gallery walk to see what other’s observed.
5. Differentiation Strategies
 NA

6. Instructional Resources and Materials?

 Three Types of Rock Worksheet (for students)
 Completed Three Types of Rock Worksheet (Instructor)
 The Rock Cake Layer Worksheet (for students)
 Rock Fact Sheet (Instructor)
 World Rock Formation Pictures (Instructor)
 Images of various rock examples that show the detailed characteristics
(Instructor)
 Layered Cake
 Plates, utensils, napkins