Saint Marys University of Minnesota

Learner-Centered Instruction Model (LCIM)

Teacher____Jared Cruz_________ Subject___1st Grade Science____ Date__10/5/2015_
Standards and Objectives
Prior knowledge activation (Standard 2)
(student misconceptions?)
I can investigate sand and silt. (Part 1)
Students likely know of sand but do not
knowsoil
that there are rock materials smaller
1.3.1.3.1
Earth materials include solid rocks, sand,
than
sand.
and water. These materials have different
observable physical properties that make them
Purpose (Standard 5)
useful.
Why learn this?
Introduction / Anticipatory Set (Standards 2,
The solid materials found on Earth are
5, 7)
found all around us and are used for many
What students will know and be able to do,
purposes. The type of rock material is
attention getter
important in determining how the material
(ENGAGE/EXPLORE)
can be use.
(Stretch brake if necessary.)
Today we will study the rock materials that are
in this vial. (Hold up a vial with sand and silt in
it.) We have learned so much about the sizes of
rocks, like pebbles, gravel, and sand. Today we
will look at the sand in this vial and see if there
is another rock material smaller than sand that
might be in this vial. Do you think there is
something smaller than sand in here?
Presentation / Modeling / Checking for
Understanding (Standards 1, 2, 4) Main
concepts, how they will be introduced,
monitoring questions / techniques (EXPLAIN)
First we will look closely at these rocks to see if
they are the same size and what they look like.
To do this, we will be using a hand lense and an
empty vial. You will have a vial of sand, an
empty vial and a hand lense. Put some sand into
the bottom of the empty vial and put the hand
lense on top to observe the grains of sand.
(Model for students.)
Release students to work at their desks. Each
student will get their own supplies at the back
table.

Adaptations for diverse learners

(Standard 3)
Teachers will assist children who are having
difficulty.
Media / Materials / Resource
Vials of sand/silt
Empty vials
Hand lenses
Cups or pitcher of water
Sticky notes

Learning activity / Guided practice /

Monitoring (Standards 2, 4) How students will
practice, integrate, and extend concepts and
skills (ELABORATE)
Students return to the carpet but leave their
materials at their desks.
Ask:
Are the sand particles all the same size?
What do the sand particles look like?

Adaptations for diverse learners

(Standard 3)
If there is time, we can look at the website
http://www.inspirationgreen.com/magnifiedgrains-of-sand.html.
It shows highly magnified images of
selected sand grains.

Now we will add water to the sand in the vial.

(Model - Add water to the vial. Fill very slowly
to the top and add the lid. Shake the contents.
Add my name to a sticky note. Place on my vial
and move my vial to a storage location.)
Ask students to notice what happens when you
add the water and shake.
Release to tables to do the work.

Teachers will assist children who are having

difficulty.

Closure (Standard 4) How lesson will be

summarized
Ask students:
What happened to the sand when you added
water?
What happened to the sand when you shook the
vial?
Was the water clear after you shook the vial?
Why not?
I told you that there are rock materials that are
smaller than sand. Tomorrow we will see that
what we just did will help us see them. What is
your prediction of how this process will help us
see the smaller particles?
Assessment (Standard 8) How student learning
will be assessed
(EVALUATE)
(A more structured assessment will come

Adaptations for diverse learners

(Standard 3)

tomorrow when the results of adding water to the

vial are sketched, otherwise the assessment will
be by observing student actions.)
Post-Lesson Reflection (Standard 9)
If you were to teach this lesson again to the same group of
Information source(s)
students, what would you do differently? The same?
Time allocation, directions, materials, presentation, etc.
What do most of your students know and are able to do as a
result of this lesson?

Information source(s)

Identify those who had difficulty with this lesson. Why?

What could you do differently for them next time?

Information source(s)

Based on todays lesson, what do you plan to do next with

this class?

What grouping(s) will you

use?