Science Lesson Plan Soil Samples

SCIENCE LESSON PLAN SOIL SAMPLES Instructor Name: Colleen Trumble Class: Dr. Hamman Elementary School grade 3/4 11:00-12:00 Lesson Title: Looking at Soil from different Places Tech Requirements: (list all materials you might need. Include special materials like balloons and also basic classroom materials like chalkboards). • Samples of soil from the class • White paper • Magnifying Glasses (found in Rock stuff bin at back of room near recycling paper bin) • 15 pieces of plain white paper • 17 copies of the sheet “A Look at Soil” • 17 copies of the soil layer sheet Administrative Notes: (if relevant, include any information needed to share with the teacher or the class). • A few days beforehand, the instructor needs to send a note home asking the parents and students to bring a sample of soil to class on the day that they are teaching this lesson. Make sure that you let the parents and students know that they should be creative in looking for a soil sample as well as label where they got their sample from. General Outcome: • Demonstrate knowledge of materials that comprise Earth’s crust and demonstrate skill in classifying these materials _____________________________________________________________ Specific Learning Objectives: • Recognize and describe the various components within a sample of soil e.g. clay, sand, pebbles, decaying plants and describe differences between two different soil samples • Students will recognize that various different layers which occur in the soil by cutting out layers of soil on a worksheet and pasting them together in the correct order. _____________________________________________________________ KSA’S: 1)How contextual variables affect teaching and learning 2) The structure of the Alberta Education system 3) The purposes of the Guide to Education and programs of study for subject disciplines you teach

4) Subject Disciplines you teach 5) All students can learn albeit at different rates in different ways 6) The purposes of short, medium and long range planning 11) The purposes of student assessment 12) The importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of teaching and learning 13) Student learning is enhanced though the use of home and community resources 15) The importance of career long learning 16) The importance of guiding your actions with a personal, overall vision of the purpose of teaching 17) You are expected to achieve the teaching quality standard _____________________________________________________________ Assessment: • Students will be assessed by the observation worksheet they complete on comparing soil samples as well as the worksheet they complete on the layers of the soil.

______________________________________________ ACTIVITIES Name of Exercise: A Look at Soil

Expected Length: (in minutes) 30 minutes Purpose: (why is this exercise included in the lesson) To show the students different samples of soil, and have them recognize the differences in the soil, depending on where it is from. Detailed instructions: (how will this exercise be explained to the group) • Instructor will explain that soil is completely different depending on where it is from, which is why they asked for the students to bring in different samples of soil. • Students will be asked to take out their samples of soil and place them on their desk. DO NOT TOUCH OR PLAY WITH YOUR SOIL YET! • Instructor will ask the helper to hand out the observation worksheets as well as a white sheet of paper to every student. Instructor will also ask the helper to pick someone to help hand out the magnifying glasses • Once the students have everything, the instructor will tell them to dump a small amount of soil onto the white piece of paper. Once they have done this, the instructor will ask them to please answer the questions on the observation sheet, using the magnifying glass when needed. • During this time, the instructor will walk around the classroom and help out anywhere that is needed. • *note* if a student does not bring a soil sample, that is no problem, simply ask them to buddy up with someone who has brought a sample

of soil, and the two of them will examine the one sample of soil. Name of Exercise: Expected Length: (in Putting the layers of soil back together minutes) 30 minutes Purpose: (why is this exercise included in the lesson) To show the students what each layer of soil is called, and what order it is layered in. Detailed instructions: (how will this exercise be explained to the group) • Instructor will show a slide on the smart board which shows what each layer of soil is called • Instructor will then hand out worksheets with soil layers. • Instructor will ask students to cut out soil squares, and then glue them on a separate piece of paper. Make sure to glue them as far left as you can, so there is still room to label the name of each layer on the right hand side. Name of Exercise:

Expected Length: (in minutes)

Purpose: (why is this exercise included in the lesson) Detailed instructions: (how will this exercise be explained to the group) Observations/Comments/Reflections