Minerals - The Building Blocks of Rocks

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...

Students investigate how rocks are composed minerals by dissecting rock cookies.

Students investigate the use of rocks in past and present societies. They examine how important rocks are.

Students examine how rocks are formed, used, and how to collect them. They listen to and discuss the book, Let's Go Rock Collecting, sort rock samples, and collect rocks from home.

Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.

Students explore the steps involved in the formation of metamorphic rock as they prepare a cookie receipe. As part of the process, sedimentary rocks are created and changed through heat to a metamorphic cookie.

Students explore the physical properties of sand, soil, and rocks and sort, classify, compare, and contrast the materials found in the soil. The differences between the living and non-living parts of the soil is discussed.

Students examine how to take a sample by looking at rocks in the schoolyard. In this sampling lesson, students discuss ways to classify rocks by color, size, and weight. They think about how many rocks would make a good sample of...

After a hard day examining and dissecting worms, why not put your feet up and snack on a few? Here is a really cute idea that can be used to celebrate Earth Day or to accent a thematic learning experience. Kids use clay pots, gummy...

Students explore that volcanoes produce rocks.