Student Background Information:
As this lesson will serve as an introduction to nonrenewable resources created by geologic processes, students will not need to possess background information on this content. Students will need prior experience in navigating to particular websites (if technology devices will be utilized). Students will need to have the ability to take notes from non-fiction texts. The teacher should ensure that students are aware of the procedures and expectations for collaborative group work.
Teacher Background Information:
Our planet contains a variety of natural resources that help support life on Earth. The products that we use every day are developed from these natural resources. For example, notebook paper is a product made from the pulp of trees. Natural resources are generally divided into seven categories: plants, animals, soil, minerals, air, water, and energy sources (including sunlight, fossil fuels, wind, and hydropower). Some resources are considered renewable because they are naturally replenished in a relatively short amount of time. Some examples of renewable resources are plants, animals, and solar energy. Other resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are considered to be non-renewable resources because there is a limited amount available on Earth, and they take millions of years to form. This lesson will focus on the non-renewable resource of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas.
This lesson will utilize the "Jigsaw" literacy strategy, in which students will become members of a home group and an expert group as they research and discuss their assigned topic. The following websites will provide additional background information regarding this research-based literacy strategy: "Using the Jigsaw Cooperative Learning Technique" from readwritethink.org and "Jigsaw" from adlit.org.
The teacher will need to make a copy of the "Jigsaw Research" and "Homegroup Discussion" handouts for each student (see attached documents). The teacher should preview these two handouts prior to teaching the lesson to be aware of the specific instructions for these parts of the activity. The teacher should copy the "Research Project Rubric" from readwritethink.org to formally assess each student's work at the conclusion of the lesson's activities.
The lesson's culminating assessment can be in the form of a research paper, poster, or slideshow presentation (for example, PowerPoint or Google Slides). The teacher may assign a particular presentation format or give students the opportunity to choose between these presentation options.