Rock Cycle 
THIRD GRADE
6 week unit

1. Students should be able to distinguish an element from a compound.
2. Students should be able to distinguish different mineral shapes.
3. Students should begin to explore the structure of a crystal.
4. Students should be able to distinguish that not all crystals are minerals.
5. Students should be able to increase their recognition of the three types of rocks.
6. Students should begin to formulate how erosion recycles rocks.
7. Students should be able to critically analyze what fossils represent.

WEEK 1.
PRE: Comparing elements of the periodic table.
LAB: Discovering properties of compounds.
POST: Exploring why elements combine.

MINERALS

WEEK 2.
PRE: Exploring the shapes of gems.
LAB: Comparing mineral shapes.
POST: Distinguishing the geometric shapes of minerals.
WEEK 3.
PRE: Distinguishing between crystalline and amorphous substances.
LAB: Discovering that all minerals are not crystalline.
POST: Exploring crystals.

WEEK 4.
PRE: Exploring the etymology of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
LAB: Contrasting different types of rocks.
POST: Writing a creative essay on rocks.
WEEK 5.
PRE: Exploring agents of erosion.
LAB: Analyzing different types of sands.
POST: Comparing sand formed by wind and water.

WEEK 6.
PRE: Comparing different modes of fossilization.
LAB: Discovering information derived from organisms.
POST: Observing fossil and living organisms