Title: Understanding the layers of the Earth -- Author(s): Claudia Gloo -- Grade Level: 4th -- Subject Matter: ELA, Science -- Synopsis: To enhance children's understanding of the three major layers of the earth.

Title III Learning Experience

LE Title: Understanding the layers of the Earth	Author(s):Claudia Gloo
Grade Level: Fourth	School Address: 255 Gros Blvd
Topic/Subject Area: ELA, Science	School Phone/Fax:315-866-8562
	Email:cgloo@herk-elem.moric.org

LEARNING CONTEXT

Purpose or Focus of Experience

To enhance children’s understanding of the three major layers of the earth. The

students will compare and contrast the three layers describing the composition, thickness, and temperature of each layer.

Connection to Standards

MST Standard 4

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Many of the phenomena that we observe on Earth involve interactions among the components of air, water, and land.

ELA Standard 1

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding

Speaking and writing to acquire and transmit information requires asking probing and

Clarifying questions, interpreting information in one’s own words, applying information from one context to another, and presenting the information and interpretation clearly, concisely, and comprehensibly.

Students organize information according to an identifiable structure, such as compare/contrast or general to specific.
Students use the process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and proofreading to produce well-constructed informational texts.

Essential Questions

What are the layers of the Earth called?

What is the composition, thickness, and temperature of each layer?

Content Knowledge

Declarative	Procedural
Students will know and understand the names and descriptions of the layers of the earth.	Students will be able to compare and contrast different layers of the earth in a compare-contrast composition.

PROCEDURE

**Prior Knowledge: The students have been using CD software Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus Inside The Earth and have read reports such as: "Inside the Core, Mostly Mantle, The Crust Is Us!"

Day 1: Initiating activity: While holding a globe ask students what they think is beneath the surface of the earth. Write their suggestions on the blackboard.

Tell students to read text and diagrams about the layers of the earth with a partner. They will read science textbook Science by Scott, Foresman(Pages 84-85). They will also read trade books Be A Scientist Earth’s Crust (pages 3-4) by Scholastic and Rocking and Rolling (pages 10-11) by Philip Steele. Together they will complete graphic organizer describing the layers of the Earth. They will record data such as composition, thickness, and temperature of each layer.

Day 2: Each pair of students will share their graphic organizer with another pair of students in the class. If they disagree on any part of their facts they must show where their data was found and reach consensus about their answers. Students will independently write a compare/contrast composition about two of the three layers of the Earth.

Day 3: Students will conference with teacher or other students to revise and edit composition. Their final copy will be turned in to the teacher. Their work will be published on Student Writing Center software. Throughout the rest of the week students will share their compositions by reading them aloud to the class.

INSTRUCTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS

Students work in pairs or groups.

Specifications of IEP will be met.

Special needs students will be paired with an above average student.

TIME REQUIRED

Three lessons of approximately forty-five minutes.

RESOURCES

Textbook: Science by Scott, Foresman

Trade books: Rocking and Rolling by Philip Steele

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole

Skill Book: Be a Scientist Earth’s Crust by Scholastic

CD software: Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus Explores Inside The Earth

Software: The Student Writing Center

OPTIONAL SOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

Optional Website: agc.bio.ns.ca/earthnet/

More advanced students may try to compare/contrast a three way comparison.

Students with IEP's have modification to draw and verbally compare/contrast layers of the earth.

ASSESSMENT PLAN

Compare and Contrast Composition Rubric

STUDENT WORK

See Attachments

LAYERS OF THE EARTH

	COMPOSITION	THICKNESS	TEMPERATURE
CRUST
MANTLE
CORE

OUTLINE

FOR

COMPARE-CONTRAST COMPOSITION

Paragraph #1

What am I comparing and contrasting?

What is the purpose for this essay?

Topic sentence to begin this paragraph with; In this essay I will

compare and contrast _____and_____.

Paragraph #2

How are they alike?

Topic sentence to begin this paragraph with; There are (a few, some, several, or numerous) likenesses between __________ and __________.

Paragraph #3

How are they different?

Topic sentence to begin this paragraph with; While there are

(a few, some, several, or numerous) likenesses, there are also (a few, some, several, or numerous) differences.)

Paragraph #4

Have I answered my purpose for this essay?

Topic sentence to begin this paragraph with; After comparing and contrasting _________ and ______________, I have found that _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OPEN COMPARE AND CONTRAST

_______________________________ ________________________________

HOW ALIKE?

HOW DIFFERENT?

CONCLUSION OR INTERPRETATION:

Name:_______________________________

COMPARISON TASK RUBRIC

Task Component	4 Points Each	3 Points Each	2 Points Each	1 Point Each
Identifies Items	Identifies two layers of the earth and gives extremely suitable comparisons. Comparisons show creative and original thinking.	Identifies the two layers of the earth and successfully compares the layers.	Identifies one layer of the earth and doesn't compare that layer.	Selects items that are not appropriate to the comparison..
Identifies Characteristics	Accurately gives data about the temperature, thickness, and composition of the layers of the earth and provides an unusual insight.	Accurately gives data about only two characteristics (temperature, thickness, or composition) of layers of the earth.	Accurately gives data on only one characteristic (temperature, thickness, or composition) of the layers of the earth.	Select characteristics that are trivial and do not address the comparison.
Identifies the Similarities and Differences	Accurately assesses all the similarities and differences for two layers being compared. (temperature, thickness, and composition)	Accurately assesses the major similarities and differences for two layers being compared. (temperature, thickness, and composition)	Makes some important errors in identifying major similarities and differences in the two layers being compared. (temperature, thickness, composition)	Makes many important errors in identifying major similarities and differences in the two layers being compared. (temperature, thickness, composition)