Curated OER
Petrology in the Gravel Pit
Students are introduced to a wide range of rock types when they examine pebbles and boulders exposed in a gravel pit. Students practice rock description and identification and categorize the rocks sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic.
Curated OER
A Special Relationship: Connecticut and Its Settlers
Students study both geological and geographical features of Connecticut and the New Haven area. They focus on map works and rock formation.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Rocky Secrets: Where Does Oil Hide?
You may have heard the expression, "You can't get blood from a stone." But what about oil? Can you get petroleum oil from a stone? In this geology science fair project, you'll find out what kinds of stones make the best storage rocks for...
James Madison University
James Madison University: Clastic Sedimentary Rock Classification
An upper-level explanation of clastic sedimentary rock classification. Charts, diagrams, and review questions are included. Be sure to click on the PDF Clastic Identification key.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rock Jeopardy!
Students reinforce their understanding of rocks, the rock cycle, and geotechnical engineering by playing a trivia game. They work in groups to prepare Jeopardy-type trivia questions (answers) and compete against each other to demonstrate...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Making & Breaking: The Rock Cycle
Students learn the components of the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time under the influence of weathering, erosion, pressure and heat. They learn about geotechnical engineering and the role these engineers play in the...
Other
Caterpillar: Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future [Pdf]
This set of lesson plans was developed to accompany Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future, a documentary film created by Caterpillar and Science North. They introduce students to the various phases involved in mining,...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Mineral Magic
Classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Classifying Rocks and Minerals
Fourth graders identify rock types by observing key characteristics.
Utah Education Network
Uen: How to Make a Rock
Activity introduces students to the concepts of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Utah State Office of Education
Utah Science: Rocks, Minerals, and Soils Introduction
Dig into the layers of activities exploring and investigating minerals and how they are related to both rocks and soil.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earth History: Crayon Rock Cycle
Introduce to the students the three main types of rocks and the processes that form them. Wax crayons are eroded into sediment, compacted into sedimentary rock, partially melted and pressed into metamorphic rock, and finally melted and...
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: La Alteracion De Las Rocas Superficiales
This unit goes deeper into the knowledge of the three petro genetic environments: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. It includes 13 interactive activities.
Math Science Nucleus
I. Science Ma Te: Integrating Science, Math and Technology
This site offers a wealth of online textbook-related materials that encourage the discovery of science in the world around us. Enter the site to access material on specific topics. Each section contains reading material (complete with...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: Sedimentary
A slideshow, a karaoke song to sing along to, and a short multiple-choice quiz on sedimentary rocks and how they are formed.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Serc: Modeling Sea Level: Lateral and Vertical Facies Changes
What do sequences of sedimentary rocks tell us about how sea level has changed? Students will use a tube and bead (or ball) model to visualize and predict how changes in sea level can control the lateral and vertical facies distribution...
PurposeGames
Purpose Games: The Rock Cycle
Select the correct response for each given name. Players will test their knowledge of the rock cycle with this 9 question interactive.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Rocks and Soils: What Kind of Rock Am I?
Test your knowledge of different types of rocks by taking a quiz. Determine if each picture shows an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Geology: Rock Classification Overview
Understand how to classify rocks and minerals with this concise tutorial.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Rock Cycle: How Rocks Change
Find out how rocks and rock layers change with erosion and weathering.
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.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: The Rock Cycle With Geologic Settings [Pdf]
A colorful diagram of the rock cycle showing the stages that rocks go through as they are transformed by different processes such as weathering, lithification, and crystallization.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Reference Documents: Rock Cycle [Pdf]
A simplified version of the rock cycle showing the three types of rocks and the transformational processes that occur between each pair of rock types.
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.