Rocks and Minerals Composition Database
Judy Brake
Beaufort Elementary
4/4/03
Subjects included in this Lesson Plan: Science, Technology and Math
Brief Description: Each student is assigned a rock or mineral to research. Students use various websites and reference books to find information. These facts are then compiled into a database which the students access for information.
Approximate time required: Two class periods are used beforehand for research done in the media center and the classroom. Next, a technology session is held for students to learn about the database. A subsequent technology session is held for students to access the database for specific information with assistance from instructor. A 30 minute follow up lesson with students independently accessing the database for information is the lesson to be observed.
Standard Course of Study Goals and Objectives:
Math
4.03 - Collect, organize and display data from surveys, research, and classroom experiments. Include data from other disciplines such as science.
4.04 - Interpret information orally and in writing from charts, tables, tallies, and graphs.
Science
Competency Goal 2 - The learner will build an understanding of the composition and uses of rocks and minerals.
2.01 - Describe the composition of a mineral. (Each mineral has a definite chemical composite and structure resulting in definite physical properties.)
2.02 - Analyze the mineral composition of rocks.
2.03 - Assess the uses of rocks and minerals.
2.04 - Classify rocks by using student-devised rules.
Technology
1.3 - Identify violations of the Copyright Law.
2.1 - Use technology tools to collect, analyze, and display data.
2.2 Practice proper keyboarding techniques for upper and lower case
letters.
2.5 Define the parts of a database.
2.6 - Develop a simple database and enter and edit information as a class activity.
2.10 - Use search strategies to locate information electronically.
2.11 Recognize the differences between non-networked and networked
computers.
3.2 - Search and sort prepared databases for information to use in classroom projects.
3.5 Evaluate information found via telecommunications
for content and usefulness.
Teacher’s Lesson Goals/Objectives:
The students will first review what a database is and how to retrieve its information. Then they will use the database file called
RocksandMineralDB.cwk to respond to a set of
activity questions.
Materials/Resources Needed:
- Computers in classroom, lab, and media center for initial research on rocks and minerals
- Internet access
- Encyclopedias
-Science books
- Reference books on rocks and minerals from media center
-AppleWorks Rocks and
Minerals blank database
-AppleWorks Rocks and Minerals
-Milky Quartz, Graphite and tile
Pre Activities:
1. Teacher assigns each student a rock or mineral after completing
Rock and Mineral chapter in the science book.
2. Students use a printout of the blank
Rocks and Minerals database to research their rock or mineral in the classroom, as well as visit the media center,
making use of reference materials and Internet access. Students are
reminded to cite their sources. Students evaluate information found
via telecommunications for content and usefulness as they research.
3. Introduce database vocabulary: field, record, find, sort,
ascending descending.
4. Teacher talks about the differences between non-networked and
networked computers and how to save their information in student
folders.
Activities:
1. Students will discuss what a database is and how it is
used. Students are introduced to the AppleWorks database using
the 2,2,2,2 method (2 menus: Layout and Organize, 2 ways to view a
database: Browse and List, 2 things you can do with a database:
Find/Search and Sort, 2 ways to sort: Ascending and Descending)
2. Students will demonstrate how to open the database file called RocksandMineralblank.cwk in computer lab.
3. Students enter their mineral data into the database using
proper keyboarding techniques. (Teacher or Technology Facilitator
merge new rocks or minerals into existing
the database.)
4. Students are given activity
questions to complete by properly using the database made from information they compiled.
(Teacher reads the scenario and demonstrates how to identify
the Milky Quarts and Graphite)
Closure: Students will be asked to share and print their database
research and display them on the wall..
Assessment:
- Students use search strategies to find information about their
rock and minerals on the Internet.
- Each child demonstrates to the teacher an understanding and an ability to
enter, edit, search and sort a database through teacher
observation and having activity questions answered correctly.
- Students adheres to copyright laws by citing sources
correctly.
- Students understand networked and non networked computers by
successfully saving and retrieving their work.
- Students use proper keyboarding techniques (Teacher
Observation).
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