Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes
Earth and rocks
CCSS NGSS.4-ESS2-2England: KS2 Geography linksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Name the landform from its description
Leads to: Use map scale and compass directions; Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis
Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Name the landform from its description). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which landform is this: a high, flat area of land with steep sides? (valley / plateau / peninsula / plain) → plateauPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
- Which description matches a volcano? (a very high, steep area of land with a peak / a wide, flat area of land / land with water all around it / a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out) → a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come outPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.
- True or false? Valleys are the highest points of land. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Picture each landform: high, low, flat or surrounded by water?
Hook · 3 min
- Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
- Share the objective: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: On a world map, where are most earthquakes and volcanoes found?
- Step 1: Plate edges are where most earthquakes and volcanoes happen.
- Step 2: So the answer is: in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates
- Answer: in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- On a world map, where are most earthquakes and volcanoes found? (only in the middle of continents / scattered evenly everywhere / in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates / only near the North Pole) → in long belts along the edges of Earth's platesPrompt: Earth's outer layer is broken into huge moving pieces.
- True or false? The ocean floor is completely flat. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Where is the deepest part of the ocean? (under the North Pole / in the middle of a calm bay / next to every beach / in a trench where one plate dives under another) → in a trench where one plate dives under anotherPrompt: The Mariana Trench is about 11 km deep.
- True or false? Mountain ranges often form where plates push together. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Name the landform from its description.
- Use concrete materials: rock samples.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Use map scale and compass directions; Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder