Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Rocks & Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Take young geologists on an exploration of the rock cycle with this six-lesson earth science unit on rocks and minerals. Through a series of discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations your class will learn...
Unit Plan
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Rock Groups

For Teachers 1st
Firts graders distinguish between sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. They group the rocks into the appropriate group. This is one of the best-organized plans I've seen! Learners watch a PowerPoint presentation which is embedded...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Are Rocks Formed?

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students identify types of rocks. In this geology lesson, students view animated graphics to identify how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks are formed. Students take a rock quiz to show how different rocks are formed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Here is a geology instructional activity which invites learners to explore a variety of rocks. They find rocks in the schoolyard and classify them according to size, color, and weight, then read the book Everybody Needs a Rock. Good...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Solid

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks. They watch a PowerPoint Presentation, view an online animation of the three types of rock stress, identify the various types of rocks, answer true or false...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the basic properties of rocks, the processes involved in the formation of soils, and the needs of plants provided by soil. They write descriptions in their Science journal and identify and discuss each type of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the rock cycle of different types of rock. They arrange cut-outs of the parts of the rock cycle in the correct order and then draw the rock cycle or research different types of rocks.
Lesson Plan
Project SMART

Rocks and Minerals: Touch the Earth

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students complete a unit of lessons on rocks and minerals. They conduct research, write e-mail questions to geologists, write daily journal entries, label maps demonstrating types of rocks/minerals found, and create a web page that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Data Collection in Archaeology

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research different types of rock art and categorize it into basic groups, classify Powerpoint Images according to interpretation, enter findings into Access template, and interpret results after comparing information with rest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources: Mining in B.C.

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore energy by categorizing rocks. In this British Columbia geology lesson, students define many different vocabulary terms associated with mining such as sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Students utilize sample rock...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transportation Fuels Rock Performances

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Here is an exciting way to get small groups teaching each other about different fuels that are used for transportation; have them write a song about a fuel type and sing it for the class! Each group must write a three-line, informative...
Lesson Plan
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Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi

Find the Most Spectacular Volcanoes in the World!

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Heat things up in your earth science class with this collaborative lesson on volcanoes. After first being introduced to the different types of volcanoes and how they are formed, young geologists work in small groups to...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

What is in that?

For Teachers 6th Standards
Invite your class to dig in to an engaging journey into the world of mining! Here you'll find the tools to equip young miners with knowledge of soil, rocks, and minerals, as well as types of mining operations. To round things out, the...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Importance of Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Chemists with No Backbones

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
Marine invertebrates offer us many new options for developing pharmaceutical drugs, such as w-conotoxin MVIIA, which is extracted from the cone snail and is a potent painkiller. The instructional activity encourages scholars to research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time for All Ages

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover time keeping by analyzing technological advances in history.  In this time lesson, 4th graders create and complete a KWL chart based on their research of a famous timekeeping invention, such as a sundial....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Would You Like A Desert With That?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the four different deserts in the United States and their characteristics. They discuss the four different types of deserts in United States and their characteristics, and locate them on a map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primary Energy Sources Pros and Cons

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of each type. They conduct a variety of experiments on renewable energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrating Physical Science and the Geological Environment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students undertake a series of experiments and activities related to geology, especially in Connecticut. They evaluate types of rocks, minerals, and crystals, exploring the main concepts of geology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Adventure

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students work as a class to write a general definition of fossil based on their discussion and examine pictures of the different types of fossils. Once discussion is complete, they write and illustrate a book about a T Rex that has died...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landslides!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discover soil and Earth movement by experimenting in class.  In this Earth Science lesson, students utilize a stream table, soil, graduated cylinder and water to create a re-enactment of a landslide.  Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diatom Ooze

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore seafloor sediment. In this ocean environment instructional activity, students describe the characteristics of different types of seafloor sediment and oozes. They compare and discuss locations of sediments and oozes by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Country Music Mourns A Legend's Passing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history of country music. They explore various websites, identify the different types of country music, read about members of the Country Music Hall of Fame on their official website, and answer discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals in the Local Environment

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students recognize the different types of plants and animals living in a local environment. They determine how they require different habitats to live, and relate simple life processes to plants and animals found in local environments.