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ABSS Science Unit Planning Template

Introduction:
Students will explore and identify the physical properites of rocks, minerals, soil and water. Students will also
compare the properties of soil from different areas and their ability to retain water. Students will also be able to
compare and discuss the capacity of soils to nurish and support plants.
Grade/Course: 01 | Science

Suggested Unit Pacing (# of days): 9 Weeks

Unit Number and Title:

District Grade 1 Unit 1: Earth Science: Physical Properties
of Earth Materials

Conceptual Overview:
Students will explorethe physical properties of:
rocks, minerals, soil and water.

Essential
A student will understand that the Earth is made up of different materials.
Understandings
Earth Systems,
Structures and
Processes

NCES

NCES.01.SC.E.2

Understand the physical properties of Earth materials that

make them useful in different ways.

NCES

Understand the
physical
Summarize the physical properties of Earth materials,
properties of
Earth materials NCES.01.SC.E.2.1 including rocks, minerals, soils and water that make them
useful in different ways.
that make them
useful in different
ways.

NCES

Understand the
physical
Compare the properties of soil samples from different
properties of
Earth materials NCES.01.SC.E.2.2 places relating their capacity to retain water, nourish and
support the growth of certain plants.
that make them
useful in different
ways.

1.E.2.1

Learning
Targets

Essential
Terminology

I can identify and describe the physical properties of rocks.

I can identify and describe the physical properties of minerals.
I can identify and describe the physical properties of soils.
I can identify and describe the physical properties of water.
I can categorize earth materials into solids and liquids.
I can explain how rocks and water support plant and animal life.
I can describe how some earth materials solve human problems

1.E.2.2
I can locate different types of soils
I can compare and contrast the properties of the soils
I can explore various soil samples capacity to retain water
I can research how a seed will grow in each soil sample
I can determine which soil has the most nutrients to support the growth of plants

materials, rocks, minerals, soil, water, capacity, retain, nourish, support, solid, liquid, matter,
container, nutrients, properties, sink, float
Level

Standard

With guidance and support from adults, recall

Standard information from experiences or gather
information from provided sources to answer a

Standard Name
CCSS.01.LA.W.1.8

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question.
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they
Standard name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, CCSS.01.LA.W.1.2
and provide some sense of closure.
Standard

Ask and answer questions to help determine or

Standard clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a
text.

CCSS.01.LA.RI.1.4

Distinguish between information provided by

Standard pictures or other illustrations and information
provided by the words in a text.

CCSS.01.LA.RI.1.6

Standard
Literacy
Standards

Ask and answer questions about key details in a

CCSS.01.LA.RI.1.1
text.

With prompting and support, read informational

texts appropriately complex for grade 1.

CCSS.01.LA.RI.1.10

Participate in collaborative conversations with

Standard diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts CCSS.01.LA.SL.1.1
with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Ask and answer questions about key details in a
Standard text read aloud or information presented orally or CCSS.01.LA.SL.1.2
through other media.
Ask and answer questions about what a speaker
Standard says in order to gather additional information or CCSS.01.LA.SL.1.3
clarify something that is not understood.
Add drawings or other visual displays to
Standard descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas,
CCSS.01.LA.SL.1.5
thoughts, and feelings.

Literacy
Integration

Add drawings or other visual displays to

Standard descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas,
thoughts, and feelings.

Literature
Connections

CCSS.01.LA.SL.1.5

National Geographic Kids: Everything Rocks and

Minerals by Steve Tomecek
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth by Joanna
Cole
Smart Words Readers: Earth Science Set Scholastic
Pack
Top 50 Questions Pack by Seymour Simon
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie M. Rosinsky
Soil (True Books: Natural Resources) by Christin
Ditchfield
Soil! Get the Inside Scoop by David L. Lindbo and
others
Jump into Science: Dirt by Steve Tomecek
Soil Basics by Mari Schuh
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Level
Clarifying
Objective

Technology Clarifying
Standards Objective
Essential
Standard

Standard

Standard Name

Classify text as nonfiction or fiction.

NCES.01.IT.IN.1.1

Compare important facts and minor details.

NCES.01.IT.IN.1.2

Understand the difference between text read for

NCES.01.IT.IN.1
enjoyment and text read for information.

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Clarifying
Objective

Use a variety of technology tools to gather data

and information (e.g., Web-based resources, e- NCES.01.IT.TT.1.1
books, online communication tools, etc.).

Clarifying
Objective

Use a variety of technology tools to organize

data and information (e.g., word processor,
graphic organizer, audio and visual recording,
online collaboration tools, etc.).

NCES.01.IT.TT.1.2

FossWeb
Pebbles, Sand and Silt: Find Earth Materials
Discovery Ed. Video/Sources:
Rocks: The Solid Earth Materials Part 01
Discovery: The Dirt on Soil

Technology
Integration

Getting to Know Soil

How Does Your Garden Grow?
Websites

BBC- School Science Clips

Rocks and Soils
Other:
Science Netlinks
Underground Adventure
Geology in the Classroom
All About Rocks
BrainpopJr has videos for rocks and soil.
Anecdotal notes from AB buddy discussions.

Formative

Analysis of students science journals.

Sort using different soils and their properties.

Performance
Tasks
Assessment

Give student a rock and have them describe its physical properties.
Have students write and draw how/where to grow a specific plant.
(focus on properties of soil)
Access BrainPop quizzes.

Summative

Sort using different soils and their properties.

Have students create a "Brain Dump" on everything they have learned
throughout the unit.

Websites:

FossWeb
Pebbles, Sand and Silt: Find Earth Materials
Discovery Ed. Video/Sources:
Rocks: The Solid Earth Materials Part 01
Discovery: The Dirt on Soil
Getting to Know Soil

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

BBC- School Science Clips

Rocks and Soils
Other:
Science Netlinks
Underground Adventure
Geology in the Classroom
All About Rocks
BrainpopJr has videos for rocks and soil.

Resources

Books:
National Geographic Kids: Everything Rocks and
Minerals by Steve Tomecek
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth by Joanna
Cole
Smart Words Readers: Earth Science Set Scholastic
Pack
Top 50 Questions Pack by Seymour Simon
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie M. Rosinsky
Soil (True Books: Natural Resources) by Christin
Ditchfield
Soil! Get the Inside Scoop by David L. Lindbo and
others
Jump into Science: Dirt by Steve Tomecek
Soil Basics by Mari Schuh
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Interactive Resources:
Smart Exchange:
Rocks Rock by bates479
Rocks and Geologists by mkeeth
Rocks, Soil and Water by bmagdos
Geologist by mkeeth
Weeks 1-5 (depending on school science block): Rocks/Minerals
To begin this unit start with an anchor chart on what students already
know about rocks and minerals. Then watch the Rocks: The Solid Earth
Materials video from Dis.Ed and add student knowledge to the anchor
chart. You may also use books from the list of resources to add more
information. Then create an activity with rocks. For example the
Geologists lesson from Smart Exchange gives a good foundation of
rocks and their properties (you will need a collection of rocks to do this
lesson!). If you do not have rocks the BBC: Rocks and Soil website has
an interactive lesson exploring the physical properties of rocks. During
this unit study you may also choose to have students record
information/observations in a science journal or notebook.

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*As you go on in this unit continue to add to anchor charts.

Weeks 4-9 (depending on school science block): Soil/Water and its

Properties

After you have finished your lessons on rocks begin to explore the
properties of soil with students. You may begin with an anchor chart on
Instructional soil and then watch the Dis.Ed. video Getting to Know Soil. You may
Learning Plan
Sequence also use books from the list of resources to add more information. Also
introduce the properties of water using Dis.Ed. video How does your
garden grow. Then create an activity with soil. For example the
Rocks, Soil and Water Smart Exchange lesson gives a good foundation
of soil and water and their properties.
Students will then explore which type of soil a seed grows best in (clay,
sand, humus-potting soil).
Incorporate science journals for observational information on soil and their
seeds growth.

Small group for vocabulary and concept instruction.

Frontload vocabulary and concepts.
Remediation
Picture dictionary for vocabulary.
AB buddy/ Peer buddy for class activities.
Give student a set of different rocks and have them describe the
Differentiation
similarities and differences amongst the rocks. Student may use a Venn
diagram to organize information.
Enrichment

Have student design and carry out an experiment to test seed growth
using different variables (ie. Adjustment of water, light, mixing of soils).

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