Fourth Grade Geologists: "I learned that it is easier to classify rocks with a partner"

The fourth graders begin their Earth's Forces Unit with a Rocks and Minerals unit. Usually, I am unable to collaborate on Rocks and Minerals because I am prepping the students for Earth's Forces. This is crushing because I am a rockhound. I love rocks and collect them wherever I go. Crushed no more and I! This year the timing worked in my favor and I set to work designing a rocks and minerals library project with input from the classroom teachers. 

I designed a three week Rock Identification unit that would reinforce the learning in the classroom while requiring the students to delve into the databases and encyclopedias. The library project looped into the classroom unit after the students had had sufficient time to build up their knowledge of rocks and minerals, including their properties, type, and role in the rock cycle. Collaborating on Rocks and Minerals allowed me to reintroduce the students to the library resources, both electronic and print, resources they will be using frequently in the next few months. Here's the project:

Step One: 

Gather rocks 

I brought in rocks from my own collection.

Step Two: 

Explain the project, introduce the resources, 

begin the research

Students explored the rocks and chose one they wanted to identify.

We reviewed how to access the electronic resources and navigate through them.

I also set up a mini pathfinder to get students started.

We reviewed the note taking sheet.

The students got to work identifying their rocks.

Step Three: 

Finish up the rock identification and 

take what they learned to 

create a rock identification tag.

Step Four: 

The Rockhound Roundup

The rocks were placed on felt to make it look more like a museum. A few unidentified rocks were included to give students an opportunity to continue to use their new-found knowledge.

The Students took part in a gallery walk, 

where they left comments and questions on each other's work.

Some rocks received more comments, mainly due to their properties, but this is something to be aware of in the future - possibly reminding students to move along to another rock if one already has many comments. The students had shared what the comments should look like and sounds like prior to the activity.

Step Five: 

The students reflect on the project

The scale went from one indicating "yes" to three "not really." This shows me that a majority of the students were happy or moderately happy with their work.

Here was one of the major reasons for for this unit - building confidence accessing and using the library research resources - both electronic and print. The students will be engaged in more learning experiences to build upon this new understanding and confidence.

This response makes me happy. I just created this unit and already see ways to improve it, but I am excited to know I am on the right track.

Yes! This is data I can use to show the value of the learning happening in the school library. 

I asked the students one open ended question, "What did you learn?" I dropped the students open response answers into a word cloud generator. It gives me a good sense of the theme of their answers - hard to identify rocks and working with partners were both present in many responses. Their full responses are below.

I learned that...

I learned that it is better to have more people in your group

Some rocks can be really hard to identify.

That identify rocks is hard

Nothing

I learned that it is hard to identify rocks and minerals.

There is all different kids of rocks

I learned that rocks may not be what they look like

That a lot of rocks are a lot like others so it may be harder to identify

I learned that it takes a long time to learn about rocks

Cool rocks can be the hardest to identify.

I learned that books can give you just as much information as websites can.

That the answer is right below the surface.

Some rocks can be very, very, very VERY hard to identify.

The rocks we had were to small

Kid Rex is a good sight

I learned that Brainpop is very helpful.

I learned that rocks are very interesting and there are so many different ones.

I learned about rocks

That computers are resourceful.

Books are good for research

I learned that I work well with a partner.

I learned that it is sometimes hard to find that rock that you are looking for

It is easier to identify rocks using websites than books.

That rocks have a lot of properties.

Affects happening on rocks can change the color.

I learned that rocks are harder than they seem to classify.

Even if it has a pattern it doesn't have to be a metamorphic rock

How to use library resources

It is hard to identify rocks and minerals

Rocks can be really really interesting!

How to use library resources

that rocks can be hard to identify

I found that it takes time to identify rocks.

There are many types of rocks some are really hard to identify

working with a partner can help.

I learned that working with a partner you can get work done faster.

Rocks are hard to identify

All rocks are different

I learned that with working with a partner can get things done more easily and quickly and I learned that there are so many different types of rocks just in the crust and never mind the the mantle,outer core and inner core. I am sure that there are thousands of rock that have not been identified or found. and I wonder what types will come next!!!

I learned how to identify rocks. I think I also learned how to work with a partner, and get better at working with a partner. I really enjoyed this project.

That it is easier to work alone

It is more easy with a partner

Working with a partner is better

Working with a partner is hard

How to find data bases

Working with a partner is fun.

it is easier to work with a partner

I learned that working with a partner is easier than on your own.

I learned that it is easier to classify rocks with a partner

Some rocks can be made from lava, the Earth's layers, and other stuff that makes Metamorphic, Igneous, and Sedimentary rocks. Or other rocks!

I learned that rocks are different

I learned that identifying rocks is a lot of work.

It was fun working with a partner

Working with a partner can be hard

I learned that there are tons of different types of rocks, and that working with certain partners can be hard.

It is sometimes hard to work with a partner.

Come With Me, It Takes a Village... of Kindness

The second graders have been focusing on kindness this month. We're reading picture books that shine the light on kindness in different ways. We started out in a familiar setting, the school setting by reading Each Kindness and I'm New Here. You can see how the students responded in this post. The next week, we narrowed our focus to the individual level by focusing on human interactions and seeing (not looking) at those around us. We read Why Am I Me?, We're All Wonders, and Be a Friend. You can see how the students responded to these books on this post. 

This week, we expanded our scope to the broader community. First we read Come With Me by Holly McGhee and illustrated by Pascal Lemaître.  

I read the dedication with the students because it is not only empowering, it also helps set the stage for the book. 

You know a book is timely and important when students give you the "me too" signal when reading this page. It made me sad, but also thankful that there are books that can help start necessary conversations like this one.

The young girl wants to make the world a better place and her parents help her do this by inviting her to witness their world, "Come with me," they say. They go out into their urban neighborhood and interact with others, in simple but powerful ways like greeting those they meet along the way -- building that global community one smile at a time. They also take her shopping at their local grocery, where she sees that she is part of a multicultural pluralistic society where each person is seen as an individual.

Ultimately the girl is ready to head out on her own, which her parents allow, not letting fear get in their way. When the young boy from across the hall wants to know where she is heading she invites him along, knowing that two people working together can do even more. She offers the familiar refrain of Come With Me reminding readers that sometimes we are invited and sometimes we invite others. 

Each act of kindness ripples out making the world a better place (to take a line from Each Kindness).

I won't spoil the ending, but it is perfect and empowering and filled with hope. Holly McGhee and Pascal Lemaître's book is a seamless and beautiful thing.

I asked my students what they were doing or wanted to do to make our community/world a better place. I invited them to draw their hands around the world (which we forgot to color) because it symbolizes that invitation - to reach out to help. Here are some of their responses:

Next we read It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Hillary Clinton's Clinton's spare and empowering text is perfectly paired with Marla Frazee's art, both invite children to envision themselves as valuable members and builders of the village. 

The book starts off encouraging children to see themselves as important members of the village. 

This spread below got a good laugh at the idea of there being instructions, but also allowed for a conversation about life being a journey and making mistakes being part of that journey.

I can't stress how much I value the message in these next pages. Its important for children to know and see that all members of our community contribute and are valued.

My students loved the finished playground (great analogy). The final sentence is a clarion call to ensure the village is worthy of all children. The students and I talked about the things that are necessary in a village/community. After our discussion, they built communities, each adding their own building block of what they felt was important.

I am tempted to read one more book, Kadir Nelson's If You Plant a Seed, which I would have included but it had been checked out! Add it to your lesson if you have it.