Term 4 Topic 2 Rocks

• Prior to the start of topic 2 the teacher needs to set up a display in the classroom of different rocks, stones and soil.
• Greet the learners.

• Show Presentation 1.
• On slide 5 ask learners to carefully take note of what they see on the surface of the earth (they can write down what they observe).
• Show Video 1.

• Ask Learners what they think is on the surface of the earth.

Possible Answers:

Land, sea, clouds, atmosphere, forest, rivers, mountains, etc.

• Hand out Fact Sheet 1.
• Let learners read through the information (reading and understanding).
• Hand out Worksheet A. Let learners answer question 1 - 10 with the help of the factsheet.

• The following activity is designed to help learners remember what they have learned in the PowerPoint presentation.
• Learners must read through the information in Fact Sheet 2 and answer the questions in Worksheet B.

• Ask the following questions:
• Ask 2 learners to come and look closely at the potted plant.
• Teacher brings a pot plant to school (the plant must be in soil and watered):
  1. What is the plant sitting in?
  2. Why is it in this substance?
• Possible Answers: 
  1. Soil; sand; water.
  2. to hold it up; to feed it minerals and water.

• Show Presentation 2.
• Discuss the properties of soil and what is found in it.

• Hand out Quiz 1. Learners may complete this quiz in class or as homework.

• Teacher takes two rocks from the classroom rock display and bangs them together a number of times.
• You will get their attention and a bit of the rocks may break off…

• Greet the learners.
• Ask learners to tell you about what you have just done with the two rocks.

Possible Answers:

Banged two rocks together; broken pieces of rock off.

• Tell learners that this breaking off of rock pieces happens all the time in nature.

• Learners will conduct a group investigatio on Breaking up of Rocks with Acids.
• Hint: start planning 2 weeks in advance (before you begin Topic 1) as the activity takes time.
• Divide the learners into groups of 6 – 8.
• Each group needs:
• 1 cement brick.
• 1 large clear plastic container.
• 1 bottle of vinegar.
• Each learner must write down what they think will happen (HYPOTHESIS).

“ If ……………………………….., then ………………………………..”   

• Learners must write down their observations at the start and end of the 2 weeks on Worksheet C.

• Learners will conduct a group investigation into the properties of soil.
• Have a container of soil in the class or let learners collect and bring soil specimens to the class.
• Let learners conduct the investigation and complete Worksheet D.

• Learners will conduct an individual investigation.
• Hand out Worksheet E.  Demonstrate the experiment to the learners.
• Learners investigate and complete their observations on the worksheet.