Rocks in Your Head A Curriculum unit

designed to increase literacy skills through

computer research and lab activities

Stephen Ryan PVHS

Summer 2006

Rocks in Your Head:•Designed for 9th grade Earth Science students

School:•Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria Ca. •3-class block schedule•Computer lab

Student Learning:•Gate •Special Ed.•504’s accommodations•English language learners.

Demographics:•Hispanic 74% •White 17% •Asian 6%•Other 3%

In RET I, I tried to utilize single or heterogeneous phase reactions in aqueous media at elevated

temperatures and pressure in order to crystallize inorganic and organic hybrid crystals.

I did this by attempting to synthesize inorganic-Organic hybrid materials consisting of a network using carboxylic acids as the connections between metal ions/metal ion clusters.

The purpose of this project was to translate my research experience from RET I into a curriculum resource where I would use and share.

Translating My Research:•Teaching science through problem solving•Understanding the variables of problems•Using technology to link prior knowledge•Learning through reading and writing •Using literacy skills to solving problems

Rocks in Your Head

Research Projects:•What are Rocks? •What are Crystals? •Amongst the Rocks (Igneous, Metamorphic, & Sedimentary)• How can rocks be Transformed? •What about your Rock? (Final Project)

Lab Activities:•Mineral Identification•Crystal Formation •Rock Classification

Requirements:•Select a type of rock to further research•Identify the minerals that make up your rock•Identify your rocks crystal structure•Identify the variables for crystal growth•Explain how rocks can be transformed•List the physical properties of rocks•Write a scientific letter for each project

Rocks in Your Head

Research Projects & Lab Activities:• What are Rocks? • Mineral Identification Lab• What are Crystals? • Crystal Formation Lab• Amongst the Rocks (Igneous, Metamorphic, & Sedimentary)• Rock Classification lab• How can rocks be Transformed? • What about your Rock? (Final Project)

California Content Standards: Dynamic Earth Process3. C) Students know how to explain the properties of rocks based on the physical and chemical conditions in which they formed.

National Content Standards:Unifying concepts and Processes1. Systems, order and organization2. Evidence, models, and explanation3. Change, consistency and measurement5. Form and function

Assessments: All assessments are based on rubrics•Scientific Letters (5x75 pts)•Lab packets (3x75 pts)

Literacy Skills:•Reading:

•Instructions•Information•Peer editing

•Writing: •Scientific letters

•Comprehension: •Scientific letters•Lab activities

Acknowledgements:

The Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), University Of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Educational Outreach Program

RET I: PI: Anthony Cheetham Mentor: Crystal MerrillFunding: Unilever & NSFSummer: 2005

RET II:PI: Dr. MichenfelderMentor: Kim GatoFunding :National Science FoundationSummer: 2006

References:•Rock Hounds

www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/index.html

•Geosciencewww.amonline.net.au/geoscience/index.htm

•Rocks Rock!www.rocks-rock.com

•Geodetectivewww.nps.gov/brca/geodet/

•Windows to the Universewww.windows.ucar.edu