Writing about Rocks

Summary

Students will summarize their knowledge of rock types by writing a warrant and staking a claim for an engineering decision on a building.

Materials

• short PowerPoint with pictures of local building made of stone or with stone facings
• paper and pencil or computer to write with
• student worksheet (attached)
• sample warrant (attached)

Background for Teachers

Common Core Literacy Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts, reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.

Instructional Procedures

1. Show the slides and discuss how widely rock is used in buildings.
2. Explain that they will work in groups (2 or 3 students is best) to be a "company" making a proposal to build a building or building facing. They need to choose the building material and support their claim with evidence and use vocabulary words from their rock unit.
3. Allow students time to work and compose the final draft does not need to be more than a claim statement, 3 supporting facts and a summary.
4. Ask groups to share their work with each other or with the class.

Assessment Plan

Scoring Guide:

1. A claim is clearly stated…………………………………………….…….4
2. Supporting statements are facts not opinions……………..….4
3. Core vocabulary words are used……………………………..………4
4. Summary statement convincingly "sells" the proposal…...4

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.