Curated OER
Rock On! Featuring the Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Trio!
Get your classroom rocking with this four-lesson earth science unit. Through a series of shared reading activities and hands-on investigations, young geologists learn about the three types of rocks and the unique properties of each.
University of New Orleans
Rock Cycle and Rocks Lab
Science rocks! Explore three types of rocks and the rock cycle with an igneous rocks experiment. Pupils discuss textures, composition, and learn how melts are formed from the Earth's crust. They weigh materials using a scientific scale...
Science 4 Inquiry
Rocks Makin' Rocks: Rock Cycle Simulation
Scholars review prior knowledge before completing a hands-on simulation of the rock cycle. They write stories or songs summarizing their simulations to demonstrate mastery.
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Take young geologists on an exploration of the collection of rocks and minerals that we call Earth with an upper-elementary science lesson. Through a series of class discussion and hands-on investigations, students learn about the three...
Curated OER
Jeopardy Game - Science
Used in an upper elementary classroom, this presentation could be a center activity or a whole-group experience. This is a great way to review a variety of scientific topics. There are questions relating to the planets, rock formations,...
Curated OER
Sandwich Stratigraphy
Two activities are included in this resource. In the first, junior geologists model sedimentary rock layers, apply the Law of Superposition, and demonstrate folding and faulting of the Earth's crust. The model is technically a sandwich....
Royal Society of Chemistry
Weathering and Erosion: Simulating Rock Attack in the Lab
Into each life some rain must fall, but how can that change rocks? Young geologists' understanding of weathering and erosion increases throughout the activities. The lesson includes five short activities to be completed over two class days.
Curated OER
Density of Rocks
Given a variety of rocks, junior geologists calculate densities and correlate them to Earth's layers. As a simulation of continental crust, they experiment with how materials of differing density float in water. Finally, they compare the...
California Academy of Science
Rock Cycle Roundabout
After a basic introduction to the rock cycle and the three main types of rocks, young geologists can deepen their understanding of how rocks change through a fun learning game. Based on the characteristics and events shared by a reader,...
Curated OER
Rock Hunters
Students observe rocks of various types and sizes and record these observations through drawings. They gather rocks, measure, classify, observe, describe and record their collection.
Curated OER
Rock My World
Students conduct a hands-on experiment designed to demonstrate how continents and oceans formed and why the manner of formation is relevant to a study of volcanoes.
Curated OER
The Earth
When students embark on an exploration of the Earth and rock formations, this resource could be used as a way to introduce or review key concepts. Students could use this presentation as a way to review information independently at a...
Curated OER
Rock Star Centers
Second graders explore the properties of rocks. Through center activities, 2nd graders complete an analysis of a rock of their choice. They identify several elements of their rock as well as complete a rendering of their rock in their...
Curated OER
Rock Star Centers
Students complete a Rock Star Journal while studying the properties of their rock. They choose their own rock star, and then they are going to learn everything they can about their rock star.
Curated OER
Rock and Mineral IQ
Students observe rock and mineral compositions. In this identification lesson, students read The Story of Rocks. Students identify rock and mineral samples by testing for hardness, color, luster, weight and appearance.
Curated OER
Geology: How to Make a Rock
Second graders examine the various kinds of rocks and make a flipbook about them. They draw pictures of the rocks and write several sentences about how each type of rock is made. They discover the differences in the rocks by making...
Curated OER
Rock Density Lab
Students use a balance and weigh a rock sample. They weigh the rock suspended on a sling in a glass of water. They tabulate the rock's density using the two weights and compare the density of various rocks of similar sizes.
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Rock
Here is a lesson that rocks! Young scientists choose a rock and list words that describe it. They estimate the mass of their rocks and rank them within a group. They measure their rocks for volume and write a story that somehow includes...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Rock
Students describe and classify rocks that they have chosen. They estimate and find the mass of their rocks.
Curated OER
Rock Around the Clock Math
An engaging and fun lesson on telling time is here for you. In it, young time-tellers listen to the song, "Rock Around the Clock," then use Judy Clocks to practice telling time to the hour and half hour. Finally, using paper plates, each...
Curated OER
Rocks and Soil: What is the Land Made of?
Students identify rock classifications and rock cycles. In this rocks and soils lesson students complete experiments on rocks and how they are symbols in the Bible.
Curated OER
Earth System Science
Students investigate the age of the earth by using accepted scientific methods. They conduct research about the use of radioactive dating and there is a simulation activity of the process. Finally, students measure the radioactive decay...
Curated OER
Investigation 2 - Classifying Rocks
Fourth graders identify basic properties of minerals and rocks. They access websites and utilize worksheets imbedded in this lesson plan to further their understanding of rock classification.
Curated OER
The Rock Cycle Graphically Organized
Fourth graders use the prereading strategy of discussion and then use a graphic organizer to help guide reading on the topic of the rock cycle. They use a worksheet imbedded in this plan to guide thier inquiry.