Becky McCoy

Lesson Title: Sedimentary Layers, Pt1

Timing: 40 minutes

Becky McCoy

Target Audience:Middle School Physical Science or Earth Science Classroom

Objectives:Students Will Be Able To:

Apply knowledge from Geology Unit to issues regarding drilling through sedimentary layers.

Demonstrate understanding of Geology Unit.

The Teacher Will Be Able To: Asses student understanding of Geology Unit. Assist in closing knowledge gaps that remain from Geology Unit.

Standards Assessed:New York State Intermediate Level Science Standards 2.1c, 2.1e, 2.2a, 2.2g, 2.2h

Prior Knowledge:Rocks, minerals, and plate tectonics unit. Students will have completed the lessons at:

http://geology.com/rocks/ http://www.nps.gov/cave/forteachers/upload/geology_ms_clams.pdf

Aim: Apply knowledge of rocks and minerals to drilling through sedimentary layers.

Concept Map Vocabulary:See Geology Unit Concept Map

Necessary Preparation:COPIES

Charity:Water Discovery Sheet Homework Assignment Article on Oil Drilling: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5629 All 6 Sections from http://www.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htm

MATERIALS Computer or SMARTboard with Power Point Sedimentary Layers Power Point

SET UP Have Power Point prepared to share

Becky McCoy

Lesson Plan

Aim: Apply knowledge of rocks and minerals to drilling through sedimentary layers.

Do Now: Free Writing (5 minutes)

Individual students free write about their prior layers of the earth (in list or full paragraph form). Prompt to be written on the board or power point. Geology Unit concept map to be displayed in the room.

Activity: Discovering more about drilling – oil and water (25 minutes)

Materials: Sedimentary Layers Power Point Copies of Oil Drilling Articles

Procedure: Show pictures of sedimentary layers in Nevada Think-Pair-Share Introduce Oil Drilling Brainstorm in pre-assigned Reading Groups – “What are possible issues presented

when drilling through sedimentary layers?” Reading groups are given packet of oil drilling articles and are assigned one to

read and summarize. Students return to their seats and share with their Think-Pair-Share partner

something they learned. Introduce Charity:Water as a group who is trying to provide people with clean

water.

Activity Summary: (10 minutes)

Ask students what possible problems will arise when drilling wells. Answers could include collapsing wells/holes, etc. Transition to Charity:Water project by suggesting that poor drilling techniques might contaminate whatever you are drilling for.

Explain what Charity:Water is doing by showing the website (http://www.charitywater.org). Show the Case Study video on the Why Water? page. Be sure to point out the Why Water? and Projects sections.

Homework: (5 minutes)

Complete Charity:Water Discovery Worksheet

Exit Strategy:Students write one thing they learned and a question they still have and submit to teacher as they exit the room.

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Extension Activity:Explore Charity:Water website further.

Assessment: Do Now Assignment Circulating through the room, listening to student conversations Responses to brainstorm session Homework Assignment

Resources:http://www.charitywater.orghttp://www.theoildrum.com/node/5629http://www.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htmhttp://geology.com/rocks/http://www.nps.gov/cave/forteachers/upload/geology_ms_clams.pdf

Notes & Adaptations:

Becky McCoy

Charity:Water Discovery Worksheet

Go to the “Why Water?” page of http://www.charitywater.org.

List 5 consequences of dirty water.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Describe Charity:Water’s process and cost for building a well.

Go to the “Projects” page of http://www.charitywater.org.

Under “the numbers” section, list the types of projects Charity:Water is involved in.

Which countries are digging wells at schools? Why might it be important to dig wells for schools?

Do some research on the importance of water quality and write a one paragraph summary of what you learned on the back of the page.

Becky McCoy

Becky McCoy

Lesson Title: Sedimentary Layers, Pt2 Timing: 40 minutes

Target Audience:Middle School Physical Science or Earth Science Classroom

Objectives:Students Will Be Able To:

Demonstrate understanding of physical properties of the layers of the earth. Investigate the process of digging a well.

The Teacher Will Be Able To: Assess student understanding of Geology Unit. Develop student understanding of clean water issue in order to complete final

Charity:Water project.

Standards Assessed:New York State Intermediate Level Science Standards 2.1c, 2.1e, 2.2a, 2.2g, 2.2h

Prior Knowledge:Rocks, minerals, and plate tectonics unit. Students will have completed the lessons at:

http://geology.com/rocks/ http://www.nps.gov/cave/forteachers/upload/geology_ms_clams.pdf

Information about Oil Drilling and water wells from last class and homework.

Aim: Determine the importance of proper well drilling techniques and tools.

Concept Map Vocabulary:See Geology Unit Concept Map

Necessary Preparation:COPIES

Homework assignment, if desiredMATERIALS

Chart paper for KWL Markers for KWL Plastic cups (opaque is best, cover the sides with paper if using clear cups) Dixie cups (or similarly sized container) filled with water Food or materials to create the following layers:

o Hard Solid (e.g. Graham Crackers)o Soft Solid (e.g. Bread or Cookie Dough)o Spread able, mud-like solid (e.g. Fluff, Pie Filling, Peanut Butter etc.)o Particulate Solid (e.g. Raisins, Chocolate Chips, etc.)

Becky McCoy

The following or similar tools:o Plastic Spoonso Popsicle Sticks or Tongue Depressorso Plastic to create well supports (you could cut out the bottom of plastic

cups to create a plastic sheet so students can size their tubes accordinglyo Strawso Any other tools teacher or students think of

Spoons for consumption if layers are edible!SET UP

Have pre-assigned lab groups if not asking students to work independently. Create layers in cups before class starts: 1) Place small cup with water at the

bottom of the larger cup, 2) Layer the hardest sold on top of that (be careful of setting up too far in advance since this layer might get soggy), 3) Layer the Soft Solid, 4) Spread the next solid and sprinkle the particulates.

Becky McCoy

Lesson Plan

Aim: Determine the importance of proper well drilling techniques and tools.

Do Now: (5 minutes)Students form groups of two or three and create a KWL chart about their research on Charity:Water and the need for clean drinking water.

Activity: Can you drill it? Finding the importance of proper drilling… (25 minutes)Materials:

Plastic cups (opaque is best, cover the sides with paper if using clear cups) Dixie cups (or similarly sized container) filled with water Food or materials to create the following layers:

o Hard Solid (e.g. Graham Crackers)o Soft Solid (e.g. Bread or Cookie Dough)o Spread able, mud-like solid (e.g. Fluff, Pie Filling, Peanut Butter etc.)o Particulate Solid (e.g. Raisins, Chocolate Chips, etc.)

The following or similar tools:o Plastic Spoonso Popsicle Sticks or Tongue Depressorso Plastic to create well supports (you could cut out the bottom of plastic

cups to create a plastic sheet so students can size their tubes accordinglyo Strawso Any other tools teacher or students think of

Spoons for consumption if layers are edible!

Procedure: Ask several students to describe the articles they found. Allow some time for the

class to discuss the issue (10 minutes max) Explain to the students they will have the opportunity to experience some of the

challenges of digging for clean water. Have activity instructions written on the board:

1. Goal: Dig to the water without contaminating it.2. Work in your lab groups of three students or individually (teachers’

choice).3. You may each use one tool at a time.4. When you have reached water, use your pipette to remove the water into a

beaker. Assess how clean your water is: is it cloudy? Are there particulates? Is it clear, or does it have a color?

5. Discuss the importance of your findings with your group and how you would refine your process.

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Activity Summary:Ask for two or three students to describe what they found in one sentence. Then explain we will be starting the Charity:Water school fundraiser and the homework assignment is important to begin collecting resources and data to be used in writing press releases or editorials about the fundraiser.

Homework: (5 minutes)Students should react in writing to the following: 1) What was easy or difficult about our in class drilling activity? What techniques did you find helpful? 2) How might your findings be useful for people digging or drilling their own water wells? 3) Using the data from the Charity:Water website, describe the need for proper drilling techniques. 4) If you had any unanswered questions from today’s class include them as well as any hypotheses or related research.

Exit Strategy: (5 minutes)Groups from Do Now fill in anything they learned from the activity and class discussions.

Extension Activity:Students should begin homework assignment if time allows.

Assessment: Student discussion of well digging issue Responses to homework assignment KWL Chart

Resources:http://www.charitywater.orghttp://geology.com/rocks/http://www.nps.gov/cave/forteachers/upload/geology_ms_clams.pdf

Notes & Adaptations:

Use tin foil to cover the water-filled cup in the activity so that the layers do not contaminate the water before students begin digging.