Rocks

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science

Shirley Kiernan

Introduction

Rocks are all around us. Although they seem sturdy and unchanging, natural processes constantly change rocks. This webquest will help us investigate those changes and discover the many uses of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Task

You will write a mystery story in which the detective must identify the stolen rock. Included must be a written description of all three kinds of rocks and drawings with labels. The detective will use the clues provided at the "crime scene" to solve the mystery of the missing rock.

Process

First, complete the charts for igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Use the following links to complete each chart.

http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/K12/rkcycle/rkcycleindex.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Slideshow/Igrocks/Igindex.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Slideshow/Serocks/Sedindex.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Slideshow/Merocks/Metindex.html
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/rxmin/rock.html
http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/index.html

You should also use pp. E40-E49 in your science text.

After completing your charts, begin writing your story. You will use the writing process for each stage:
                        Prewriting - web story using Inspiration
                        Drafting - type, double-spaced, in computer lab (leave space for                                               drawings)
                        Reviewing - make changes in story
                        Editing - look for and correct using CUPS (capitalization, usage, punctuation,                                       spelling)
                        Final Copy - typed, double-spaced, with a cover page containing a title and                                 illustration, and drawings in the body of your story.

Evaluation

This is how your work will be graded.


Category	4	3	2	1
Title Page - Worth 5% of Total Grade	Title page has a graphic, has the title, author's name, date, and grade five.	Title page has the title, author's name, date, and grade five.	Title page has the 3 out of the 5 required elements.	Title page has fewer than 3 of the required elements.
Writing Process - Worth 25% of Total Grade	Student devotes a lot of time to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works hard to make the story wonderful.	Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works and gets the job done.	Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by.	Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn't seem to care.
Accuracy of Facts - Worth 30% of Total Grade	All facts presented in the story are accurate.	Almost all facts presented in the story are accurate.	Most facts presented in the story are accurate (at least 70%).	There are several factual errors in the story.
Focus on Assigned Topic - Worth 25% of Total Grade	The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic.	Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic.	Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.	No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic.
Spelling and Punctuation- Worth 15% of Total Grade	There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.	There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.	There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.	The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.

Conclusion

The mystery is solved! In the process, you have learned about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. You've used the writing process to create a who-done-it story that shows all you have learned in a creative and fun way. Congratulations!

Credits & References

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.

Go to the following sites for more information on creating WebQuests of your own.

The WebQuest Page
Design Patterns

Image of rocks found at this location.

www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/ hide/go_outside.shtml
Discovery Works, Houghton Mifflin Science

Last updated on August 20, 2003. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page