Book Summary
Gems fascinate almost everyone. They sparkle, shimmer, and glimmer with mystery and beauty. This book explains how gems are formed, how they are valued, and the processes by which they become jewelry. At the end of the book, students can read about some of the most famous gems. Photographs and diagrams support the text.

Book and lesson also available at Levels S and Y.

About the Lesson

Targeted Reading Strategy

• Make predictions

Objectives

• Use the reading strategy of making predictions to understand informational text
• Understand cause-and-effect relationships in nonfiction text
• Identify simple, compound, and complex sentences and their parts
• Identify English words with non-English origins

Materials

• Book -- Gems: Treasures from the Earth (copy for each student)
• Chalkboard or dry erase board
• Word journal (optional)
• Anticipation guide, cause-and-effect, sentence type worksheets
• Discussion cards

      Indicates an opportunity for students to mark in the book. (All activities may be demonstrated by projecting book on interactive whiteboard or completed with paper and pencil if books are reused.)

Vocabulary

• Content words: atoms, brilliant, chemicals, clarity, crystals, cultured, determined, dissolve, embedded, evaporates, facets, flawed, grain, nacre, opaque, organic gems, reflect, structured, valuable