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How can you figure out where a rock came from?
The Birth of Rocks Unit | Performance Task
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How can you figure out where a rock came from?

The Birth of Rocks Unit | Performance Task
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Unit Review: Anchoring Phenomenon
  • How did the land at the Ashfall Fossil Beds change over time?
Unit Review: Key Concepts
  • There is a pattern to the location of volcanoes around the world.
  • Ancient volcanoes break the pattern, showing the earth has changed over time.
  • There are two types of volcanoes--one with thick explosive lava, and one with thin flowing lava.
  • A mountain can be broken down into smaller rocks, sand, and gravel over time.
  • Landslides happen when loose rock or earth slides down a mountain or cliff.
Unit Review: Ashfall Fossil Beds

If you haven't completed your final Ashfall Fossil Beds Explanation, now is the time to do so. We'll review what happened at the Ashfall Fossil Beds in the next few slides.

Step 1: 11 million years ago, prehistoric animals live on the land that is now Nebraska.

Step 2: A thick lava volcano erupts in Idaho (1,000 miles away) and ash travels to Nebraska.

Step 3: Animals at the Ashfall Fossil Beds slowly suffocate, die, and are covered with ash.

Step 4: Weathered rocks from nearby mountains are carried by rivers and cover the fossil layer over time.

Step 5: Heavy rainfalls wash away the earth over time.

Step 6: The jawbone of a baby rhinoceros was discovered in a ridge on a farm in Nebraska.

A group of geologists spent the summer collecting samples of rocks found in many locations. They took photos of each place that they collected rocks and marked that place on a map. They carefully labeled where each rock came from.

Unfortunately, on the trip back home, a box of rocks fell over. Every rock was separated from the label that identified where it had been found. It’s a disaster for the research project!

In today's activity, you'll use your knowledge of how rocks form and how the earth changes over time to help geologists solve this puzzle.

We'll walk you through it, step by step.

🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
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Featured Reviews

“My students loved this activity! They were all engaged and exciting to see if they solved the puzzle correctly. They were very sad that mystery science had to end for the day. Thank you for making teaching and learning fun!”
· April · Teacher
“Students really enjoyed this task. I loved hearing the teams discuss and defend their choices. ”
· Patty · Teacher
“As always it was a well planned performance task. I am pleased to see this type of completion to the units. Thanks for all the planning you do to help us!!!!! Jackie Bolen”
· Jackie · Teacher

Grade 4

Earth's Features & Processes

Rocks & Earth's Surface

4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this performance task, students will analyze four rocks and the maps and photos from different locations to determine where each rock was found. They will support each of their claims with evidence.
Preview activity
Story of a Rock worksheet 30 copies
Story of a Rock Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 copy
Story of a Rock Rubric teacher-only resource 30 copies
Prep Instructions

In this performance task, students use their knowledge of how rocks form and how the earth changes over time to help geologists solve a puzzle. They analyze maps and photos from four locations to figure out which rocks were found in each place. Then, they support their claims with evidence. If you have time to extend the performance task, there is an optional writing extension in the last step.

Print out worksheets

Each student will need:

The Story of a Rock Answer Key will help you support students throughout the unit. Students are not expected to have these answers until the end of the unit.

Unit Review

20 mins

Hands-On Activity

120 mins

Grade 4

Earth's Features & Processes

Rocks & Earth's Surface

4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2

Extend this lesson

Assessments

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Rocks Performance Task: How can you figure out where a rock came from?

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