Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Rocks and Minerals Lesson PlanRocks and Minerals Lesson Plan
Publisher
Curated OER
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
4th - 7th
Subjects
Science
2 more...
Resource Types
Handouts & References
4 more...
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
3 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
4 more...
Technology
Scientific Equipment
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Lesson Plan

Rocks and Minerals

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Rocks and Minerals lesson plan also includes:
  • Lab & Experiment
  • Graphic Organizer
  • Worksheet
  • Graphic & Image
  • Student Reference
  • Join to access all included materials

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 different types of rocks and distinguishing properties of each.

688 Views 516 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

rocks, minerals, igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks, properties of rocks, types of rocks, mineral identification, mineral properties, luster, hardness, crystal structure, crystals, the rock cycle, limestone, granite, gems, geology, geologic time scale, geologic history

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Perform the rock and mineral investigation as a series of learning centers, each one focusing on a different property
  • Create a rocks and minerals packet out of the informational texts, diagrams, graphic organizers, and worksheets included with this resource

Classroom Considerations

  • Collections of rock samples and other scientific equipment are necessary for the investigations included in the lesson, so be sure to plan accordingly
  • Though designed for the fifth grade, this lesson can also be taught in middle school science classes

Pros

  • All supporting printable materials are included 
  • Venn diagrams help young scientists to classify rocks based on their observable properties

Cons

  • Teacher will need to develop their own procedures for carrying out the rock investigations described in this lesson

Common Core

RI.4.3 RI.4.4 RI.4.7 RI.5.3 RI.5.4 RI.6.3 RI.6.4 RI.6.7 RI.7.3 RI.7.4 RI.7.7 RST.6-8.3 RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.7 RST.6-8.9

See similar resources:

Unit Plan

Sedimentary Rocks

Columbus City Schools
Turn your class discussion of rock formation from ho-hum to holy hornfels! Junior geologists gain experience in identifying rock types and rock origins, with an emphasis in hypothesizing the environment needed to form certain...
6th Science
CCSS: Designed
Lesson Plan

Rock Cycle and Rocks Lab

University of New Orleans
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...
7th - 12th Science
Unit Plan

Rocking the Cycle!

Columbus City Schools
Time to rock out! Discover the "life" cycle of the average rock using an illustrative stations lab and stimulating pairs game. Roll the dice to determine your fate: will it be melting in magma or chilling out to form igneous rock? The...
6th Science
CCSS: Designed
Unit Plan

Rocks & Minerals

Core Knowledge Foundation
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...
4th - 7th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Exploring Rocks and Minerals

Cornell University
Investigate the properties of rocks and minerals through a rockin' hands-on activity. Learners test rocks for various properties and, using a guide, attempt to identify different samples. They use various properties including hardness,...
3rd - 8th Science
PPT

Minerals of the Earth

Curated OER
Unearth this gem of a resource to use in your geology unit! With colorful images, bullet-point text, and links to related videos, it deals with the characteristics, properties, and identification of minerals. There are also slides...
5th - 7th Science
Instructional Video

Death Rocks

The Brain Scoop
If you're into death metal, this video's for you! Young geologists can rock out with a variety of deadly minerals, including asbestos and cinnabar, in this installment in Brain Scoop's playlist on fossils and geology. The narrator...
9 mins 6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Rocks

Curated OER
This video, meant for older students, clearly explains how each of the three types of rocks on the earth's surface are formed. I learned that 75% of the earth's land area is made up of sedimentary rocks! Interesting details about the...
4 mins 4th - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Earth Rocks!

Curated OER
Students study the basic elements of the Earth's crust: rocks, soils and minerals. They categorize rocks, soils and minerals and how they are literally the foundation for our civilization. They also explore how engineers use rock soils...
3rd - 5th Science
Lesson Plan

Mineral Madness

Science Friday
Science does not need to be as hard as a rock. Pupils test 10 different minerals to determine their properties. The learners observe luster, streak, hardness, and fluorescence for each specimen. Afterwards, they compare and contrast the...
6th - 8th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use