Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify how weathering and erosion effect the Earth's surface. In this weathering and rocks lesson, students study various types of rocks in water and brainstorm ways the Earth's surface changes. Students view an interactive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rock Lab

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this metamorphic rock worksheet, students observe 9 metamorphic rock samples and indicate the grain size, if there are bands, if there are layers , if it is foliated and they identify the name of the rock. They complete 5 sentences...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rocks

For Students 7th - 9th
For this metamorphic rock worksheet, students are given 8 statements about how metamorphic rocks are formed and their characteristics. Students determine if the statements are true or false and correct false statements to make them true....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Main Rock Groups

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They use foods to demonstrate the basic formation of each type of rock, read books about rock formation and view related videos.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the concept of the rock cycle.  In this geology lesson, students identify, classify, and observe three different types of rocks.  Students then list and char the characteristics of their rocks. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students become familiar with the characteristics of rocks and use them to sort.  In this rocks lesson, students view a video, then try to identify various rock samples.
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

Rock Collecting

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students practice classifying rocks in the categories sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. They bring personal rock collections to school, then correctly label the three types of rocks on posterboard.
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What Do You Know About Earth?

For Students 6th - 12th
Time to rock and roll! Young scientists test their knowledge about rocks found on Earth and what they tell scientists. A 10-question quiz focuses on the different types of rocks, how they are formed, and what they are made of.
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Molecular Genetics of Color Mutations in Rock Pocket Mice

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can you identify mutations just by viewing DNA sequences? Scholars apply prior knowledge of DNA sequences to do just that in an engaging activity. They transcribe and translate genes, thus identifying the locations of mutations. Then,...
Organizer
Curated OER

Identifying Metamorphic Rocks

For Students 7th
In this earth science learning exercise, 7th graders classify rock samples according to chart provided and physical properties of the rocks. They answer 2 analysis questions and formulate a conclusion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Rock Cycle Shower

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students classify rocks as sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic based on physical properties. In this earth science instructional activity, students recreate the rock cycle using a set of stones placed on labeled shower curtain. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock and Their Properties: Days 2-4

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars engage in cooperative research projects in order to study about the properties of the three basic rock types and the processes that form them. They plan and develop their products.with the resources for conducting their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Their Properties: Day 5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate their knowledge of rock formation processes in varied ways by sharing their cooperative research projects with the class. They generate well-framed questions in response to each presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Igneous Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners perform experiments in which they grow crystals. They draw pictures of where each type of rock originates from. They also identify igneous rocks by using a chart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how sedimentary rocks form. They identify different examples of sedimentary rocks. They also discover what types of rocks are in Illinois soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock, Soil, or Water?

For Teachers K
Pupils participate in an activity in which they identify properties of water, soil and rocks. They work together to identify different types of rocks. They ask questions to complete the instructional activity.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Igneous Rocks

For Students 10th - 11th
In this igneous rocks worksheet, students identify and explain which minerals are the first to crystallize from cooling magma according to the diagram shown. Then they describe what types of rocks are formed by those minerals. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks, Rocks & More Rocks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders work together to examine different types of rocks. They sort rocks according to their characteristics and properties.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classify Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Young scholars classify different types of rocks. In this earth science instructional activity, students test different rock samples and construct a chart to record observations. They create a concept map that answers essential questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sediment Sleuths

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Are you looking for a good, solid lesson on sedimentary rocks? This one, produced by the Illinois State Museum, is just such a lesson. Middle schoolers identify common rocks and minerals by analyzing sediments from local water sources....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine rocks. In this geology lesson, students collect rocks from the schoolyard and classify them by color, weight, and size. Students use a rock guide to identify each of the rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Geological Puzzle

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the various types of rocks on each continent. In groups, the calculate the rock ages and types to determine if the continents, in their opinion, were joined at one time. They develop two imaginary...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rock Cycle Review

For Students 7th - 9th
In this rock cycle worksheet, students review major concepts related to rock formation by answering 15 multiple choice questions and matching 15 terms to their definitions. Students identify 7 rocks as metamorphic, sedimentary, or...