Unit 1.2 Earth Materials
Students in grade 4 continue to record observations and data about physical properties of earth materials. They continue to describe, compare, and sort rocks and soils by similar or different physical properties, including size, shape, color, texture, smell, and weight. This is taught at the drill-and-practice level of instruction. However, identifying and describing minerals using the physical properties of hardness and composition is new to fourth-graders and should be taught at the developmental level of instruction.
Grade 4 students continue to identify the four basic earth materials as water, soil, rocks, and air, and are introduced to minerals. They continue to cite evidence to support why rocks, soils, and minerals are or are not classified together. Even though rocks and soils will be observed in investigations at a drill-andpractice level of instruction, minerals will be observed and described at a developmental level. Students will need many opportunities to explore these materials in order to determine similarities and differences among their physical properties.
(From work completed by Cranston Public Schools in collaboration with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin)
Grade 4 students continue to identify the four basic earth materials as water, soil, rocks, and air, and are introduced to minerals. They continue to cite evidence to support why rocks, soils, and minerals are or are not classified together. Even though rocks and soils will be observed in investigations at a drill-andpractice level of instruction, minerals will be observed and described at a developmental level. Students will need many opportunities to explore these materials in order to determine similarities and differences among their physical properties.
(From work completed by Cranston Public Schools in collaboration with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin)