Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Earth: Planet Formation

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5-10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to establish a solid foundation of knowledge that will allow students to explore and apply key geographical and geological concepts. By clearly defining the objectives, students will have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and how they can apply their prior knowledge in practical activities and classroom discussions. Additionally, this section aims to motivate students by demonstrating the relevance of studying the formation of the Earth in everyday aspects and in understanding natural phenomena.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to identify and describe the essential components of the Earth, such as the Earth's crust, mantle, and core (outer and inner).

2. Encourage understanding of the formation of planet Earth and its implications in the current geographical and geological environment.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop critical thinking skills when discussing the interactions between the components of the Earth and geological processes.

Introduction

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students with previously studied content in a practical and contextualized manner. The problem situations stimulate students to think critically and apply their knowledge in new and creative ways. The contextualization, in turn, demonstrates the relevance of studying the formation of the Earth, connecting geological past with the present and possible future applications, such as space exploration and disaster prevention.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine that a large group of scientists discovered a new layer within the Earth, between the mantle and the core. They believe that this layer could explain many of the earthquakes and volcanoes occurring in certain regions. How would you, young scientists, investigate this discovery?

2. You are members of a space mission that has landed on a planet with very similar characteristics to Earth, but without life. Your task is to collect soil and subsurface samples to find out if the internal components of this planet are similar or different from those of Earth. How would you organize the collection and analysis of these samples?

Contextualization

The formation of the Earth is a mystery that has intrigued scientists for centuries. Understanding how the Earth formed not only helps us comprehend the geological and climatic phenomena we observe, but also sheds light on the history of our planet and the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. For example, the discovery of new layers or changes in internal structures can explain earthquakes, volcanoes, and even help predict natural disasters. Additionally, the study of geology on other planets, like Mars, gives us clues about how life may have originated and evolved on Earth.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply prior knowledge about the formation of the Earth in a practical and innovative way. The proposed activities encourage exploration, critical thinking, and collaboration, essential for meaningful learning. By working in groups, students develop social and communication skills, as well as consolidating their understanding of the essential components of our planet.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Core Archaeologists

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visualize and identify the components of the Earth through a practical and playful activity, developing planning and teamwork skills.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and will assume the role of space archaeologists, exploring a fictional planet that has an Earth-like core. They will need to plan and conduct an 'excavation' in a large sandbox, simulating layers of soil and subsurface. The goal is to find and identify different materials representing the crust, mantle, and core.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Present the sandbox that represents the planet, with visible layers.

• Each group should formulate an excavation plan, deciding where and how to dig.

• Students will use tools such as brushes and spoons to excavate sections of the box.

• Identify and label the materials found, relating them to the crust, mantle, and core of the Earth.

Activity 2 - Planet Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the internal structure of the Earth and its practical implications, strengthening construction, presentation, and argumentation skills.

- Description: In this activity, students will build a scaled model of planet Earth, representing the Earth's crust, mantle, and core (outer and inner) using recyclable materials. The challenge is not only to build the model but also to present a narrative explaining how each layer interacts and influences geological and climatic phenomena.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of no more than 5 people.

• Distribute recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper rolls, and plastic bottles.

• Each group must plan and build their model of planet Earth, highlighting the main layers.

• After building, each group will present their model, explaining the importance of each layer and their interactions.

• Promote a discussion about the presentations, encouraging students to question and complement the explanations.

Activity 3 - Geological Detectives

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply geological knowledge in the resolution of practical problems, developing critical analysis and argumentation skills.

- Description: Students, divided into teams, will receive a 'detective kit' with geological maps, rock samples, and information about real geological regions. They must solve a geological mystery by identifying possible relationships between the different layers of the Earth and the natural events that occurred on the surface over time.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the detective kits containing maps, rock samples, and geological information.

• Each group will analyze the samples and maps to make hypotheses about the geological history of the region.

• Groups will present their findings and reasoning to the class.

• Conduct a group discussion to compare and discuss the different conclusions of the groups.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate the knowledge acquired by students, allowing them to articulate their discoveries and reflections. The group discussion helps develop communication and argumentation skills, as well as providing an opportunity for students to evaluate and correct possible misconceptions. This collective feedback also serves to reinforce the importance of studying geography and geology in understanding and preserving the terrestrial environment.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, it is suggested that the teacher gathers all the students and provides a brief recap of the activities carried out. Then, ask each group to share their findings and the difficulties encountered during the activities. The teacher can start with an open question, such as 'What surprised you the most during the activity?'. Encourage students to relate what they learned to real situations and discuss the possible implications of the components of the Earth in our daily lives and in future studies.

Key Questions

1. What were the main characteristics that you identified in each layer of the Earth during the activities?

2. How can the interaction between the crust, mantle, and core explain geological events such as earthquakes and volcanoes?

3. In what ways can knowledge about the Earth's internal structure be applied to prevent natural disasters?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content presented, as well as to recognize their practical relevance. Summarizing and recapping the main points aids in knowledge retention, while discussing the applicability of the topic in real situations reinforces the importance of studying geography and geology in students' daily and professional lives.

Summary

In the conclusion of the lesson, the teacher will summarize the main points addressed, reinforcing the identification and description of the components of the Earth: Earth's crust, mantle, and core (outer and inner). The practical activities carried out, such as excavation in the sandbox and construction of the planet model, will be recapitulated, emphasizing the discoveries and learnings of each group.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson established a solid connection between theory and practice, allowing students to apply the geographical and geological concepts studied in a practical and contextualized manner. The proposed activities, such as the excavation simulation and model construction, demonstrated how the internal structure of the Earth influences geological and climatic phenomena.

Closing

Finally, the teacher will highlight the importance of studying the formation of the Earth in everyday life, showing how knowledge about the components of the planet can be applied to understand and predict natural events such as earthquakes and volcanoes, contributing to safety and environmental planning.