How to Make Play-Doh Planet Earth Science Lesson Plan Teachers: Annie Woodson and Alexis Lawson Grade: Pre School & Pre-K Time Frame: 45 Minutes Standards: VSC’S: Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes 1. Design and make things with simple tools and a variety of materials. OBJECTIVES 1. Make something out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects that can actually be used to perform a task. 2. Recognize that tools are used to do things better or more easily and to do some things that could not otherwise be done at all. c. Assemble, describe, take apart and reassemble constructions using interlocking blocks, erector sets and the like. INDICATOR 2. Practice identifying the parts of things and how one part connects to and affects another. OBJECTIVES 1. Investigate a variety of objects to identify that most things are made of parts 2. Explain that something may not work if some of its parts are missing. c. Explain that when parts are put together, they can do things that they couldn't do by themselves. Next Generation Science Standards: 2-ESS2 Earth’s Systems 2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area. [Assessment Boundary: [Assessment does not include quantitative scaling in models.] Science and Engineering Practices Developing and Using Models Modeling in K–2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to include using and developing models (i.e., diagram, drawing, physical replica, diorama, dramatization, or storyboard) that represent concrete events or design solutions. * Develop a model to represent patterns in the natural world. (2-ESS2-2) Crosscutting Concepts Connections to Nature of Science Science Addresses Questions -- About the Natural and Material World * Scientists study the natural and material world. (2-ESS2-1) Brief Description: Students will create a 3 dimensional model of the earth using various colors of play-doh. Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the shape and physical make up of the earth including core, mantle, crust, and oceans. Vocabulary: Color Words (red, yellow, orange, brown, green, and blue), layers, crust, core, mantle, inside, and outside Materials: Play-Doh – red, orange, yellow, brown, green, and blue Plastic knife, scissors, tape, tooth picks, and labels (with names of the earth’s layers on them) Motivation: (Information part of the lesson) Hold up a globe of the earth and ask your students, What do you think the earth look like inside? Do you think it is empty? Is it hard or soft? Resource: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxd-wGMfNxw The above link will take you to a video on how to create the earth’s layers – inside the earth. The video helps the students to make a connection by using an egg to explain each layer inside of the earth. Make sure you pause the video when needed to answer questions and to explain what is going on in student friendly terms for your special needs students. Earth’s Layers Inner Core The Earth's inner core is yellow, and it is deep and hot. It is the hottest part of the earth. The inner core is solid (hard) even though it is hot. Also, it is as hot as the surface of the sun. Outer Core The Earth's outer core is orange, and it is very hot. It is hotter than fire. The mantle is made up of hot liquids. Mantle The next layer of the Earth is called the mantle. The mantle is much thicker than the crust. The mantle is the red layer. The mantle layer of the earth has a lot of rocks. Crust The crust is the thin outer layer of the Earth where we live. The crust is the brown part on the picture. As you talk about each layer and ask and answer questions, make your model using play-doh. If you create a model while you are explaining each of the earth’s interior layers, it is not just a visual image, but it will keep the students attention and interest. Procedures: Student Activity: Resource: Pictures of the steps for creating the earth’s interior layers: [helpified.com/paths/play-doh-model-of-the-earth] The first step in creating a Play-Doh model of the Earth is to gather materials. The materials needed are: Play-Doh: red, orange, yellow, black, green, and blue, knife, scissors, tape, four toothpicks, and labels Create the inner core of your Play-Doh Earth model Step two is to make a round ball of dough about the size of a quarter (measurements will vary based on personal preference of the size of the Earth model). Create the outer core of your Play-Doh Earth model The third step is to cover the red ball with orange dough. Create the mantle of you Play-Doh Earth model The fourth step is to cover the orange ball with yellow dough. This layer will be thinner than the orange and red layers. Create the crust of you Play-Doh Earth model Step five is to cover the ball with a very thin layer of the black dough. Add water and land to your Play-Doh Earth model Step six is to cover the ball with blue dough. On top of the blue add green dough to make land. If you are really crafty you can make the shapes look like actual continents. Cut your Play-Doh Earth model in half The seventh step is to cut the Earth in half so you can see all of the layers. I found it easiest to use a serrated knife and make small back and forth motions instead of cutting straight down, which just smudges the dough. Label the layers of your Play-Doh Earth model The final step eight is to label the model. Write the name of each layer (inner core outer core, mantle, and crust) on a piece of a note card and tape them to toothpicks which will be inserted into the Play-Doh. Closing/Assessment: Teacher will gather students in a circle with their play-doh models of the earth to explain how they created their 3 dimensional models of the layers of the earth’s interior and shape using the vocabulary in the lesson. Students’ models will be displayed in the science center in the classroom. Modifications: premade balls and layers will be provided for special needs students. Adult assistance will be provided as needed. Below is a rubric that we found online: [http://jocombs.org/filestore/ksciencerubric.pdf]
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