Earth's Bare Bones: Desert Minerals

Science Content Standards
Grade two Earth Sciences: 3. Earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. As a basis for understanding this concept: a. Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals. b. Students know smaller rocks come from the breakage and weathering of larger rocks. c. Students know that soil is made partly from weathered rock and partly from organic materials and that soils differ in their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants.

Investigation and Experimentation: 4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will: a. Make predictions based on observed patterns and not random guessing. c. Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight). d. Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations. f. Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small features of objects. g. Follow oral instructions for a scientific investigation.

History – Social Science Content Standards
Grade two People Who Make a Difference: Students in grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them, directly or indirectly. The study of contemporary people who supply goods and services aids in understanding the complex interdependence in our free-market system. 2.2 Students demonstrate map skills by describing the absolute and relative locations of people, places, and environments. 4. Compare and contrast basic land use in urban, suburban, and rural environments in California.

Language Arts Content Standards
Grade two 2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics): Students write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies outlined in Writing Standard 1.0. Using the writing strategies of grade two outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students: 2.1 Write brief narratives based on their experiences: a. Move through a logical sequence of events. b. Describe the setting, characters, objects, and events in detail.

1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies Students listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication. They speak in a manner that guides the listener to understand important ideas by using proper phrasing, pitch, and modulation. Comprehension 1.1 Determine the purpose or purposes of listening (e.g., to obtain information, to solve problems, for enjoyment). 1.2 Ask for clarification and explanation of stories and ideas. 1.3 Paraphrase information that has been shared orally by others. 1.4 Give and follow three- and four-step oral directions.

Mathematics Content Standards
Grade two Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability: 2.0 Students demonstrate an understanding of patterns and how patterns grow and describe them in general ways: 2.1 Recognize, describe, and extend patterns and determine a next term in linear patterns (e.g., 4, 8, 12 .Ê .Ê .Ê ; the number of ears on one horse, two horses, three horses, four horses). 2.2 Solve problems involving simple number patterns.