Minerals, Rocks, and Soil

Earth is made up various living and nonliving materials. Elements form minerals, and minerals form rocks. Different rock types - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic - transform at various points in the rock cycle. Through the processes of weathering and erosion, rocks change, break, and move. Minerals mix with organic material, forming the soil on which plants and animals rely. People use Earth resources by mining, drilling, and refining raw materials, and have become dependent on them for many purposes.

Overview Resources

Print Unit Guide PDF Project Unit Guide
Unit Guide
Print Unit Resource List PDF Project Unit Resource List
Unit Resource List
Print NGSS Correlations Chart PDF Project NGSS Correlations Chart
NGSS Correlations Chart

Print Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Unit Roadmaps PDF Project Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Unit Roadmaps
Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Unit Roadmaps

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Read-First Model

In the read-first model, students begin by reading texts that help them build a foundation of understanding with the core science ideas of the unit. Then they engage in hands-on investigations and use other resources to explore examples related to the concepts they read about. Students learn about general concepts before using deductive reasoning to apply them to specific examples.

Vocabulary resources can be used at multiple points throughout the unit to develop and strengthen students� fluency with the disciplinary language of science. TIP: Challenge students to maintain a concept web throughout the unit that connects the examples they explore later in the roadmap back to the core ideas they read about in the Unit Nonfiction Book.

Start Here
Generate Interest
Unit Guide
spark activity Quick Reads
Core Text
Unit Nonfiction Books
Apply Concepts
Process Activity
Dig Deeper
FOCUS Books Investigation Pack Science Videos
Independent Practice
Interactive Science Lessons
Extend The Learning
Career Files Debate Reading A-Z Books*

* Each unit includes one free book from Reading A�Z. To access other titles related to the science topic, a subscription to Reading A�Z or Raz-Plus is required.

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Do-First Model

In the do-first model*, students are immersed in unit concepts by completing hands-on investigations that allow them to apply science and engineering practices and construct their own explanations of core ideas. Then students read texts, watch videos, and complete more investigations that help them confirm or refine their explanations. Vocabulary resources can be used at multiple points throughout the unit to develop and strengthen students� fluency with the disciplinary language of science. TIP: Have students use a science journal to record the examples they explore through activities and readings, then challenge them to design a concept web that connects those examples to the core ideas they read about in the Unit Nonfiction Book toward the end of the roadmap.

Start Here
Generate Interest
Unit Guide
spark activity
Lead Investigations
Process Activity FOCUS Books
Dig Deeper
Quick Reads Investigation Pack Science Videos
Core Text
Unit Nonfiction Books
Independent Practice
Interactive Science Lesson
Extend The Learning
Career Files Debate Reading A-Z Books**

* This model may also be referred to as the discovery method, in which students use inductive reasoning to determine broad concepts by first exploring examples.
** Each unit includes one free book from Reading A�Z. To access other titles related to the science topic, a subscription to Reading A�Z or Raz-Plus is required.

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Project-Based Model

In the project-based model*, students work in teams to investigate a science question or design a solution to an engineering challenge. The PBL Project Organizer, SAZ Journal, completed project, and group presentation all allow students to demonstrate what they have learned and accomplished. The PBL Teaching Tips help teachers facilitate the project, while rubrics for teachers and students can be used to assess group and individual performance. During planning and execution, students use other unit resources to build their understanding of core concepts that they can apply to their project.

Start Here
Generate Interest
Unit Guide
spark activity
Project-Based Learning Pack
Unit Nonfiction Books Investigation Pack FOCUS Books Game Pack/ Image Cards Vocabulary Cards Science Videos Interactive Science Lesson Quick Reads Process Activity
Additional Resources
Career Files Debate Word Work Reading A-Z Books**

* This model is sometimes referred to as a problem-based approach to learning, in which the objective is to solve a problem. In Science A-Z Project-Based Learning Packs, students do both�solve a problem and produce a product.
** Each unit includes one free book from Reading A�Z. To access other titles related to the science topic, a subscription to Reading A�Z or Raz-Plus is required.

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Minerals, Rocks, and Soil

Read-First Model

Generate Interest

Core Text

Apply Concepts

Dig Deeper

Independent Practice

Extend The Learning

Do-First Model

Generate Interest

Lead Investigations

Dig Deeper

Core Text

Independent Practice

Extend The Learning

Project-Based Model

Generate Interest

Project-Based Learning Pack

Additional Resources

Unit Nonfiction Books

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil

Lesson Resources

Project-Based Learning Packs

Where Does Your Garden Grow?

Interactive Science Lessons

Fossils: Evidence of Earth�s Past

Process Activities

Weathering Rocks

FOCUS Books

Quicksand!

Diamonds

Fossils

Moon Rocks

Minerals in a Computer

Supporting Materials

Investigation Packs

I.Files

Shale

Basalt

Gneiss

Granite

Marble

Conglomerate

Mystery File

Chalk

Science Fair Resources

Science Fair Project Ideas

Debates

Vegetable Garden or Forest?

Science Videos

Classification of Rocks

Deep-Ocean Volcanoes

Extracting Gold

Greenland's Grand Canyon (no audio)

How Limestone Forms

How Water Affects Mountain Landscapes

MLK Fountain (no audio)

Mineral-Rich Salt

Career Files

Mineralogist; Miner; Soil Scientist

Quick Reads

Nonliving Resources

Nonliving Resources

Nonliving Resources

Splendid Soil

Splendid Soil

Splendid Soil

Using Gold

Using Gold

Using Gold

Reading A-Z Books

Gems: Treasures from the Earth - Level S

Graphic Organizers

KWLS

Main Idea and Details

Word Smart

Retelling Rubrics

Nonfiction Retelling Rubric

Science Diagrams

Describe and Compare Rocks