Rock Detectives Teacher Guide
ESL Grade 1 • Earth Science & Language Pacing: 50–60 Minutes
Rock Detectives Teacher Guide
Hands-on sensory rock observation, descriptive vocabulary, and tactile sorting for early English learners.
Science Objective
Students observe real rock specimens and identify physical properties (color, texture, shine, size), then group rocks by observable features.
Language Objective (ELD)
Students use tactile adjectives (rough, smooth, shiny, dull) using sentence frames: "This rock is [word]."
Lesson Materials Checklist
4–6 rock specimens per pair
Hand magnifying glasses
Rock Words Flashcards
Rock Sorting Activity Mat
Step 1 • 10 Minutes Warm-Up & Sensory Hook
The Mystery Rock Box (Touch First, Look Second)
Place one contrasting rock (e.g., bumpy lava rock or glassy river pebble) inside an opaque cloth mystery bag. Invite 2–3 students to reach inside without looking and describe what their fingers feel.
Teacher Script / Prompt: "Put your hand inside! Is it soft like a kitten? No! Is it hard like wood? Does it feel scratchy or slippery smooth?"
Step 2 • 12 Minutes Explicit Vocabulary & TPR
Total Physical Response (TPR) Word Routine
Introduce core opposites using choral repetition and consistent physical gestures so all language levels can participate immediately:
Rough vs. Smooth
Rough: Scratch fingers together making scratchy sound.
Smooth: Slide palm gently across cheek or arm.
Shiny vs. Dull
Shiny: Flash fingers open like a twinkling star.
Dull: Cover eyes with hands and look quiet.
Rock Detectives Unit • Page 1 of 2 • Teacher Instructional Guide
Part 2
Hands-On Investigation & Differentiation
Student Practice & Language Scaffolds
Step 3 • 15 Minutes Guided Rock Investigation
Partner Specimen Inspection
Distribute 1 rock tray and 2 hand lenses per student pair. Guide students to complete Page 1 of the Rock Detective Report step-by-step:
- Look Close: Magnify rock surface to discover hidden sparkles, lines, or spots.
- Touch Test: Rub thumb firmly on the rock. Check [Smooth] or [Rough] on the report.
- Draw & Share: Sketch rock shape and color; orally share with partner using sentence stem.
Step 4 • 12 Minutes Sorting Mat Practice
The Great Rock Sort (Texture & Size)
Students place Page 2 (Sorting Mat) between them. They pick up rocks one by one and decide together:
Target Sentence Chant: "This rock is rough! It goes on the rough side!"
WIDA / ELD Language Support Levels
Level 1: Entering
Accept non-verbal sorting, pointing to flashcards, and single-word utterances ("Rough!" "Big!").
Level 2: Emerging
Support with 2-word noun phrases ("Smooth rock") and modeled frames ("It is shiny.").
Level 3: Developing
Encourage compound descriptors with "and" ("My rock is gray and bumpy.") and rationale.
Safety & Class Norms
Remind students that rocks stay on the trays or sorting mats at all times. Use gentle fingers ("gentle geologist hands").
Exit Check (3 Min)
Before cleanup, each student holds up one rock and says one descriptive word aloud or shows the matching flashcard.
Rock Detectives Unit • Page 2 of 2 • Teacher Instructional Guide
Rock Words Flashcards
Rock Words Flashcards • Set 1
Cut along dashed borders • Perfect for pocket charts & desk rings
Touch Word #01
ROUGH
/rʌf/ • 1 clap
Bumpy like sandpaper
Action Gesture:
Scratch your fingers together: "Scratch, scratch!"
Say It:
"This rock is rough."
Touch Word #02
SMOOTH
/smuːð/ • 1 clap
Flat like a river pebble
Action Gesture:
Slide palm smoothly across your cheek: "So gentle!"
Say It:
"This rock is smooth."
Sight Word #03
SHINY
/ˈʃaɪ.ni/ • 2 claps
Catches the bright light
Action Gesture:
Open fingers wide like twinkling stars: "Twinkle!"
Say It:
"This rock is shiny."
Sight Word #04
DULL
/dʌl/ • 1 clap
No shine or sparkle
Action Gesture:
Cover eyes softly with one hand: "Quiet light."
Say It:
"This rock is dull."
Rock Detectives Vocabulary Flashcards • Page 1 of 2
Rock Words Flashcards • Set 2
Cut along dashed borders • Practice with a partner
Touch Word #05
HARD
/hɑːrd/ • 1 clap
Solid and tough to break
Action Gesture:
Knock knuckles gently on table: "Tap, tap! So strong!"
Say It:
"This rock is hard."
Weight Word #06
HEAVY
/ˈhɛv.i/ • 2 claps
Pulls hand down
Action Gesture:
Pretend to lift with both hands: "Oof! It weighs a lot!"
Say It:
"This rock is heavy."
Weight Word #07
LIGHT
/laɪt/ • 1 clap
Easy to lift with fingertips
Action Gesture:
Lift with two fingers like a feather: "So easy!"
Say It:
"This rock is light."
Pattern Word #08
SPECKLED
/ˈspɛk.əld/ • 2 claps
Has dots or tiny spots
Action Gesture:
Tap finger on your palm: "Dot, dot, dot!"
Say It:
"This rock is speckled."
Rock Detectives Vocabulary Flashcards • Page 2 of 2
Rock Sorting Activity Mat
My Rock Detective Report
Observe, touch, and discover your rock!
Name:
Date:
1 Draw Your Rock Specimen
Look closely with your magnifying glass!
Sketch here
2 Touch & Look: Check What You Find
Texture (Touch)
Smooth (gentle) Rough (scratchy)
Shine (Light)
Shiny (sparkles) Dull (no shine)
Size
Small (like coin) Big (fills hand)
3 Write Your Detective Sentence
Complete the sentence using your rock words:
My rock is
and
.
Word Bank: smooth rough shiny dull hard speckled
Rock Detectives Unit • Page 1 of 2 • Student Detective Report
Hands-On Mat
The Great Rock Sort
Place real rocks inside each zone!
Touch every rock before placing it.
Mission: Sort your rocks into SMOOTH rocks and ROUGH rocks.
Zone A
SMOOTH ROCKS
Gentle, flat, slides on fingers
Place Smooth Rocks Here
🖐 Slide palm: "Smooth like glass!"
Zone B
ROUGH ROCKS
Bumpy, scratchy, uneven
Place Rough Rocks Here
✋ Scratch fingers: "Scratch, scratch!"
Partner Talk Frame
"I put this rock in Zone ___ because it is ______."
Next Round Sort: Big vs. Small OR Shiny vs. Dull
Rock Detectives Unit • Page 2 of 2 • Hands-On Rock Sorting Mat
