Download Investigating Earth - Polaris Art-Science Integration

Designing
2nd Grade
Polaris at Ebert
Designed Based on Understanding by Design – (Grant Wiggins) & Utilizing Denver Public Schools Tracks
Curriculum with a few enrichment activities for GT/HGT Students. The Teacher should modify and add
any field trips, guest speakers, Promethean Flip-charts etc… as available.
Desired Results
Established Goals: Students ask questions about soil, rocks and water.
Understandings:
Essential Questions:







Children will understand properties of three types of rock.
Children will understand how soil is formed
Children will understand the water cycle.
Students will know:






Students will be able to:
There is only so much water on earth. Understand
condensation, precipitation and evaporation.
Understand the rock cycle and how rocks, soil and
sand are formed.
Understand the formation of loam and its value in
growing plants.
Performance Tasks:
How are rocks formed?
How is soil formed?
What is the water cycle?



Categorize rocks and name how they were formed.
Investigate soil and understand it’s use in plant
growth.
Explain the water cycle.
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Other Evidence:
Complete an observation journal
Investigate Earth Cycles
Field trip – Geology Department Colorado Nature
and Science

Write and perform a performance activity on the
water cycle, rock cycle, or soil.
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities:


Videos in class:
Magic School Bus Inside Earth
Earth Science Rocks and Minerals
Basics of Geology – Rocks and Minerals
Geologist Notebook – 3 rocks
Getting to know soil
Water Smart
Planet Earth – Fresh Water
Books
A Drop of water: A book of Science and Wonder
The Drop in my Drink The Story of Water on Our Planet
Dirt
Fossil
If you Find a Rock
Let’s Go Rock Collecting
The Magic School Bus at the Water Works
Planet Earth Inside Out
Rocks and Minerals
Snowflake Bentley
Soil: What Earth is made of

Children create word wall based on vocabulary words.