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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock vs. Mineral - Lesson #2

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students visually distinguish between those rocks that appear to be made of one substance, vs. those that appear to have more than one. This leads to the distinctions that indicate the different types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock vs. Mineral - Lesson #1

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars describe visual, textural, and other physical qualities of sample rock specimens. Using compare and contrast skills, students sort and classify the specimens according to their assessments of the qualities present in each....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers K - 6th
Students review the properties of rocks and minerals. In this geology lesson, students distinguish between rocks and minerals. Students also classify the rocks as igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Rock Cycle

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this rock cycle instructional activity, students will review the characteristics of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Students will also compare and contrast rocks and minerals. This instructional...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rocks

For Students 7th - 8th
In this metamorphic rocks worksheet, students name the components that change in size and shape when metamorphic rocks are formed. Then they describe the metamorphic rock formed from shale and its texture. Students also name the rocks...
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Finding Fossils

For Students 6th - 12th
How does one go about finding fossils? Find out with an informative webpage that looks at the digging process, showcases rocks and common fossils, helpful tips, and a list of archeological do's and don'ts. 
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals Lesson Plans

For Teachers 4th - 8th
You can use these hands on lessons to get kids 'rocking' in geology!
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Exploring the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An understanding of the rock cycle is essential in geology and earth science classes.
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

It's the Heat and the Pressure?

For Teachers 6th Standards
Ready for a change? Give a comprehensive collection of metamorphic materials a try! With the assortment of printables and lab activities, you won't be under pressure to keep things lively. The unit culminates by having pupils complete an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moh's Hardness Test

For Teachers 4th
Young geologists utilize Moh's hardness scale to help them correctly sort and classify different types of rocks. This lesson has everything you need, including an excellent example of the Mohs' Hardness Test, to successfully implement...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Different Rock Types

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze a rock using their eyes and then a hand lens. For this science lesson, students determine and discuss how hard or how easy it was to find and classify the assigned rock. Students record their observations on an index...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mineral Magic

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics, after finding the similarities and differences of school supplies and pasta.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Hounds

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students receive a basis for understanding the three main classifications of rock: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. They engage in a hands-on activity designed to give them an appreciation for rocks and minerals.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minerals and the Products of Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plot where minerals come from and have an awareness of how mineral use makes the world interdependent. They examine how to identify some sort of mineral products they use each day.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Model of the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this rock cycle worksheet, students use different colored crayons to represent different types of rocks. They follow step by step procedures to model the rock cycle with the crayons. Students draw the rock cycle, show weathering,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chocolate Chipping Away at the Rock Cycle

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different types of rocks. In this earth science instructional activity, 8th graders compare and contrast rocks and chocolate cookies. They explain how materials are recycled beneath the Earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rock Lab

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this metamorphic rock worksheet, learners observe 9 metamorphic rock samples and indicate the grain size, if there are bands, if there are layers , if it is foliated and they identify the name of the rock. They complete 5 sentences...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keying Rocks

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe several examples of types of rock and write about their similarities and differences in their science journals. They discuss their observations and discover that rocks are grouped according to the scientific...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Mineral Mixtures

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students use basic scientific concepts to complete the series of puzzles that are intended to increase science literacy for classifying types of rocks and minerals.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks

For Students 4th - 6th
In this igneous and sedimentary rocks worksheet, students will review 8 vocabulary words associated with the characteristics and types of igneous and sedimentary rocks. Then students will group the vocabulary words into two groups.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock and Roll with Music and Movement

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders improvise music and dance to express their analysis of types of rocks. They discuss the three classes of rocks, list describing words, and create a short musical piece and dance to symbolize the rock they are dancing.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Rocks Review

For Students 7th - 12th
In this rocks worksheet, students review the characteristics of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. This worksheet has 4 true or false, 16 fill in the blank, and 5 matching questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Google Earth Geology Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students take a virtual field trip around California using Google Earth. In this geology field trip lesson, students explore landforms and a variety of rocks located in California.  Students compare environments where rocks are formed....
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Rock Cycle Roundabout

For Teachers 4th - 12th
After a basic introduction to the rock cycle and the three main types of rocks, young geologists can deepen their understanding of how rocks change through a fun learning game. Based on the characteristics and events shared by a reader,...