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Activity
Other

Prince George's Community College: Reading the Rock Record [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an in-depth activity where students create a rock layer formation using different colors of playdough and investigate the types of folds and rock formations that might occur. They take core samples through anticlines and...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Jade

For Students 3rd - 7th
A scientist from the American Museum of Natural History familiarizes viewers with jade, a rare stone from different places around the world. Explore the scrapbook he kept.
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Website
Other

Grand Canyon Geology

For Students 9th - 10th
Photos, illustrations, 3D graphs and animations are part of this investigation into the geology and landforms of the Grand Canyon. Learn detailed information on the formation of the canyon, the rock layers, and the prehistoric life that...
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Website
Other

Usgs: Geology in the Parks

For Students 9th - 10th
Details regarding the geology of national parks in the United States.
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Handout
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Rocks and Minerals

For Students 9th - 10th
Essential guide to geology of the National Parks focuses on minerals and the different types of rocks. Includes a visual glossary.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Department of Mineral Sciences

For Students 9th - 10th
Useful interface and gateway into the research collections of the Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Find information, image galleries, exhibits, specimens, and related resources about...
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Lesson Plan
National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Nagt: Rock and Mineral Laboratory Exercises in Large Auditorium Classes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This set of four exercises requires each student to be provided with a rock and mineral kit, described in the downloadable activity description. They perform a detailed series of tests on the samples to discover their properties.
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Interactive
National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Nagt: Rock & Mineral Bingo

For Students 9th - 10th
Teacher instructions and all the needed materials for a challenging game of Bingo where students must apply their knowledge of rocks and minerals in order to win. Downloadable materials include a description of the activity, Bingo...
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Rocks

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive tutorial you'll learn about rocks and the rock cycle. You'll be introduced to the three different rock types and what makes them what they are. You'll also learn about how the matter that makes up these rocks is...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Rocks, Rocks, Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Minerals Ed

Mineral Resources Education Program of Bc: Teacher Resources

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Teachers find resources connected to the minerals industry of British Columbia, including comprehensive units for all grade levels, with specific curriculum links to provincial curriculum, and integrated science kits.
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Article
Children's Museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Golden Cube Geo Mysteries

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how to test a material by using the five main properties of minerals to identify it at this interactive site.
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eBook
Other

Canadian Centre for Energy Information: Earth Really Rocks [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Earth Really Rocks is a teaching unit for Grades K-3. It approaches the study of rocks from an energy perspective, looking at how gas and oil are formed underground, as well as at sedimentary rocks and the structure of the Earth's crust....
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: North Cascades National Park Geology

For Students 3rd - 8th
Resource explores the history and geology of the Cascade Mountains. Content includes a geologic story, virtual field trip, a look at plate tectonics and the rocks & minerals found in the Cascade Mountains, geologic maps, and more.
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Handout
University of Oregon

Museum of Natural and Cultural History: Rocks and Minerals: Everyday Uses

For Students 3rd - 8th
Click on the shelves in this virtual exhibition to learn about the many rocks and minerals that we use in our everyday lives.
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Graphic
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Rock Identification Chart [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A flowchart students can use as a tool to identify rocks. They answer yes or no to questions about various characteristics and responses to tests until they can narrow down the possibilities.
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Lesson Plan
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Is It a Rock or Mineral? [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
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.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Trb 4:3 Investigation 2 Classifying Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Activity helps students identify basic properties of minerals and rocks.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Trb 4:3 Investigation 1 Minerals vs. Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Activity helps with understanding the basic properties of rocks and minerals.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Rocks, Rocks Everywhere

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders will sort rocks based upon color, hardness, texture, layering, and particle size.,
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Rock Hounds

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders will select a rock, study it, and describe its attributes.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Nhmu: Rock and Mineral Uses

For Teachers 2nd
Learn about the various uses of rocks and minerals.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Minerals and Rocks

For Teachers 4th
Explore the differences between minerals and rocks.
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Interactive
BBC

Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Materials: Rocks and Soils

For Students 3rd - 5th
Save Earth from the evil villain who is draining all the life from it. Following the activity, read more about rocks and soil, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.