Other
Prince George's Community College: Reading the Rock Record [Pdf]
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...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Jade
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.
Other
Grand Canyon Geology
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...
Other
Usgs: Geology in the Parks
Details regarding the geology of national parks in the United States.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Rocks and Minerals
Essential guide to geology of the National Parks focuses on minerals and the different types of rocks. Includes a visual glossary.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Department of Mineral Sciences
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...
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Rock and Mineral Laboratory Exercises in Large Auditorium Classes
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.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt: Rock & Mineral Bingo
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...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Rocks
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rocks, Rocks, Rocks
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...
Minerals Ed
Mineral Resources Education Program of Bc: Teacher Resources
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.
Children's Museum
Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Golden Cube Geo Mysteries
Learn how to test a material by using the five main properties of minerals to identify it at this interactive site.
Other
Canadian Centre for Energy Information: Earth Really Rocks [Pdf]
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....
Curated OER
National Park Service: North Cascades National Park Geology
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.
University of Oregon
Museum of Natural and Cultural History: Rocks and Minerals: Everyday Uses
Click on the shelves in this virtual exhibition to learn about the many rocks and minerals that we use in our everyday lives.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Rock Identification Chart [Pdf]
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.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Is It a Rock or Mineral? [Pdf]
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.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Trb 4:3 Investigation 2 Classifying Rocks
Activity helps students identify basic properties of minerals and rocks.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Trb 4:3 Investigation 1 Minerals vs. Rocks
Activity helps with understanding the basic properties of rocks and minerals.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Rocks, Rocks Everywhere
Second graders will sort rocks based upon color, hardness, texture, layering, and particle size.,
Utah Education Network
Uen: Rock Hounds
Second graders will select a rock, study it, and describe its attributes.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Nhmu: Rock and Mineral Uses
Learn about the various uses of rocks and minerals.
BBC
Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Materials: Rocks and Soils
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.