Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is in a Rock?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars identify, sort, and classify mineral samples that make up a common rock.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Soils

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners compare the properties of rocks and relate these properties to their use. They perform a virtual experiment to describe and group rocks on the basis of their characteristics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Star Centers

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars complete a Rock Star Journal while studying the properties of their rock. They choose their own rock star, and then they are going to learn everything they can about their rock star.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Classroom Exhibit: Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students bring in rocks and minerals from home. They observe them and describe them carefully, completing a worksheet. Finally, a classroom exhibit is created.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Core

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders take their own "core sample" with clay and/or play-dough and correlate the layers of the earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Hunters

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe rocks of various types and sizes and record these observations through drawings. They gather rocks, measure, classify, observe, describe and record their collection.
Lesson Plan
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Minerals of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students learn and practice identifying Earth's minerals and their properties. Working in small groups, they evaluate minerals. This is a well-described lesson plan, which students enjoy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Cycle Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
A few of the components of this lesson are not possible to carry out because the rock cycle diagram and challenge handouts are not included. Hopefully, you already have your own rock cycle diagram or worksheet to use as a concept...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inside a Geode

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students examine a variety of geodes and discuss how they are formed. Individually, they make their own geode creation out of markers and clay. To end the lesson, they use watercolors to paint them to their desired color and glitter to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soil Isn't Dirty; It's Diverse!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders participate in a soil activity.  In this soil lesson students complete a worksheet describing  different soil types and the organic and inorganic things found in them. 
PPT
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Science Jeopardy - Virginia Geology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Unique in content, this Jeopardy-style game quizzes participants on the geology of the state of Virginia. Categories include provinces, east or west, under the surface, once alive, and fun facts. Other than teachers of upper elementary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Metamorphic Rock Pancakes

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students identify the properties of a metamorphic rock. They make delicious pancakes on a hot griddle at school to simulate how metamorphic rocks are made.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Your World

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young scholars define soil, dirt, clay, silt, and sand. They conduct an online scavenger hunt, answer pre-written online questions on a piece of paper, and play the Earth Materials Game after completing the scavenger hunt.
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.
PPT
Curated OER

The Earth and Rocks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
There are inconsistencies in the information included on each slide. For example, physical characteristics are listed for sedimentary rocks, but formation is mentioned for metamorphic rocks. For igneous rocks, characteristics and a hint...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everybody Needs a Rock

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Here is a lesson that rocks! Young scientists choose a rock and list words that describe it. They estimate the mass of their rocks and rank them within a group. They measure their rocks for volume and write a story that somehow includes...
PPT
Curated OER

Rocks: Minerals Mixtures

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Basic information about the rock cycle, fossils, and the value of rock to civilizations is given in these 6 slides.  There is no explanation of information other than to present the terms, and so it could be used to start a unit  
Lesson Plan
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Frogs Frogs Frogs

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars view a disk on the continental movement and analyze the given data on fossils, rock types and climate zones. In this geology lesson plan students draw a diagram of the earths layers, take a quiz complete a PowerPoint...
Lesson Plan
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Classification Introduction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners simulate classifying rocks using different colored skittles. In this earth science lesson, students create a Venn diagram according to their compiled information. They share this diagram in the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pyrites

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the mineral pyrite and discover the differences between it and gold.  In this mineral lesson students identify minerals using their common properties.
Interactive
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Sedimentary Rocks Worksheet

For Students 4th - 8th
In this geology lab activity, students answer 31 short answer questions about sedimentary rocks. Teacher needs to provide text or internet site for students to find answers.
Worksheet
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Igneous Rocks Worksheet

For Students 4th - 8th
In this geology exploration learning exercise, students complete 27 short answer questions about the properties and locations of igneous rocks. Teacher must provide text or internet link.
Lesson Plan
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The History of Rock and Roll

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine how the different layers of rock show the history of the Earths surface.  In this rock lesson plan students divide into groups and complete an activity using clay.
Lesson Plan
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Rocks Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students become familiar with the characteristics of rocks and use them to sort.  In this rocks lesson, students view a video, then try to identify various rock samples.