Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Earth and Space Science: Every Rock Tells a Story
Explore the different types of rocks on our Earth as you watch a one-hour video, accompanied by learning goals, details on sedimentary rocks, fossils, and supercontinents, and more.
BBC
Bbc Bitesize: Rocks
This learning module helps students understand the three types of rock: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic and how they are formed.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: If Rocks Could Talk
Learn about metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks and see many examples of each type.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: The Rock Cycle
A video, a karaoke song to sing along to, and a short multiple-choice quiz on what happens during the rock cycle.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Ck 12: Plix: Intrusive and Extrusive Igneous Rock
[Free Registration/Login Required] An interactive animation demonstrating how the mineral crystal in an igneous rock formed due to the cooling magma. Site also includes a short quiz on the formation of the crystal.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Chocolate Rock Cycle
Students use chocolate in this activity to model sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, mimicking what happens during transformations in the rock cycle.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Houston Activity: Texas Rocks
Using a geologic time scale and map students investigate the rocks in their area.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Investigating Different Rock Types
In this investigation, students explore the characteristics of various types of rocks.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Schoolyard Geology
The purpose of this lesson plan is to provide teachers with some activities they can do on school grounds. Activities include mapping, describing sedimentary rocks, and solving a mystery.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Rocky Movement [Pdf]
In this lesson plan, 3rd graders will investigate the three types of rocks and personify the formation of each type with movement.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Rocks and Processes of the Rock Cycle
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents the three major rock types and the rock cycle.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Rocks and Processes of the Rock Cycle Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Summarizes the key points about how the three types of rocks form and convert from one to another. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Birth of Rock(s) Identifying Rock Types
This lesson will allow the student to explore the characteristics of rocks. Through exploration the student will be able to identity the three kinds of rocks and examples of each. They will also learn how rocks are used in our...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Model the Rock Cycle With Crayons
Use crayons to model the rock cycle in this fun activity! You will make colorful sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous "rocks" from crayon shavings.
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.
PBS
Pbs: Where to Dig
Dinosaurs have intrigued us for many years. As we explore to learn more we need to know where to look. In which type of rock would you find dinosaur fossils? This brief interactive provides real world application for rock characterization.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Rock Chart [Pdf]
A rock chart the describes the texture, appearance, characteristics, type, and where each is formed.
Other
Hard Rocks Interactive Crossword
A fun way to review what you know about rocks! Play online, or print out and solve later.
EL Education
El Education: Kid's Guide to Rock Park
Students research different types of rocks and different ways of identifying rocks, then create a field guide for younger students attending a museum called The Rock Park.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: The Human Rock Cycle
Students act out a type of rock, igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, for others to guess.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Three Types of Rocks
[Free Registration/Login Required] This fun lesson features three characters: Meta, the metamorphic rock; Iggy, the igneous rock; and Sid, the sedimentary rock. Students explore characteristics of each type of rock, play games, fill out...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Types of Rock
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this flipchart, review different forms of rock. See examples of each and review vocabulary terms.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Every Rock Has a Story
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains the differences between different types of rocks and how they were formed. The three main types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) are shown.
Other
Rocks and minerals.com: Rock and Mineral Uses
This is a fairly extensive list of common rocks and minerals, each followed by a brief explanation of how they are used in our society.