Curated OER
Adaptations
Sixth graders identify plant adaptations. In this adaptations instructional activity, 6th graders use digital cameras to photograph plants found on their campus. Students describe the adaptations for each plant.
Curated OER
LESSON PLANS (print version) pdf What is a Fossil?
Students can better explain how mould and cast fossils occur when they make their own cast fossils using plaster of Paris and objects such as shells, bone or even their own hand or footprint.
Curated OER
Comparing Local, National, International Biomes
Learners calculate averages of climate sets of data. In this ecology lesson plan, students analyze data to determine identity of a biome and collect meteorological data to understand process. Learners also compare data sets.
Curated OER
Exploring Great Salt Lake
Fourth graders go on a field trip to make observations about plants in the Great Salt Lake area. They make observations about the environment and record the types of pants that are living there. The lesson is to introduce the concepts of...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Classifying Rocks and Minerals
Fourth graders identify rock types by observing key characteristics.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Trb 4:3 Investigation 2 Classifying Rocks
Activity helps students identify basic properties of minerals and rocks.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Mineral Magic
Classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Is It a Rock or Mineral? [Pdf]
In this lesson, students will compare types of candy to learn about geological classification. Students will classify and sort different materials by their composition and physical properties.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Geology: Rock Classification Overview
Understand how to classify rocks and minerals with this concise tutorial.
SRI International
Performance Assessment Links in Science: Classifying Rocks
This is a performance task where students sort and classify rocks based on their properties, then demonstrate how they can transfer their understanding to decide on ways they might sort and classify other types of objects.
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Rocks and Minerals
Here is an interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Rocks and Minerals.
Australian Museum
Australian Museum: Igneous Rock Types
Learn about the different types of igneous rocks and how they are classified.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Rock Investigation
In this activity young scholars will observe and investigate rocks in order to classify them in terms of color, shape, texture and size.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rocks, Rocks, Rocks
Students test rocks to identify their physical properties (such as luster, hardness, color, etc.) and classify them as igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary. They complete a worksheet table to record all of the rock properties, and then...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Collecting and Identifying Rocks
Students investigate rocks in an outdoor field trip, and then place them into groups by characteristics. The different groups could be the size, shape, color, and texture of the rocks. After classifying, students are introduced to the...
James Madison University
James Madison University: Keys to Igneous Rock Classification
Click for different identification keys for igneous rocks to help you classify them correctly. Includes various color/texture keys as well as classification charts. (NOTE: At the time of writing this, the PDF links were configured...
Other
New Mexico State University: Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks [Pdf]
A PowerPoint slideshow converted to a PDF, with six slides per page. It explains what metamorphism is, the distribution of metamorphic rocks, the agents of metamorphism, the types of metamorphism, metamorphic grades or degrees, how...
University of Oregon
Geo Man's Mineral and Rock Charts
This site contains several charts that can be used for identifying rocks and minerals based on traits such as hardness, luster and color.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Igneous Rock Classification
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to classify igneous rocks.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Cool Collectibles and Super Sorts
Second graders will create a classroom rock collection.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Geology: Igneous Rocks: Lesson 3
This lesson will present how to identify and classify igneous rocks. It is 3 of 3 in the series titled "Geology: Igneous Rocks."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Geology: Sedimentary Rocks: Lesson 1
This lesson will present how to identify and classify sedimentary rocks. It is 1 of 3 in the series titled "Geology: Sedimentary Rocks."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Geology: Igneous Rocks: Lesson 2
This lesson will present how to identify and classify igneous rocks. It is 2 of 3 in the series titled "Geology: Igneous Rocks."
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Rocks a Lesson in Inquiry
For this activity, young scholars sort and classify rocks in small groups, and record questions they have. The class will sort the questions into investigatory and non-investigatory questions. They will choose one to investigate, make a...