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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Rocks Makin' Rocks: Rock Cycle Simulation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Scholars review prior knowledge before completing a hands-on simulation of the rock cycle. They write stories or songs summarizing their simulations to demonstrate mastery.
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Rocks: Anatomy of Granite

For Students 9th - 12th
Get earth science students excited about the formation of rocks with an engaging interactive resource. Learners analyze the composition of granite, then study the various processes that work together to make igneous, sedimentary, and...
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Rocking the Cycle!

For Teachers 6th Standards
Time to rock out! Discover the "life" cycle of the average rock using an illustrative stations lab and stimulating pairs game. Roll the dice to determine your fate: will it be melting in magma or chilling out to form igneous rock? The...
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eBook
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Utah Open Textbook: 7th Grade Science

For Students 7th Standards
Physical and biological factors affect everyday living. Scholars explore electromagnetic forces, motion, the rock cycle, and geological changes. They examine cells as the building blocks of life and how organisms reproduce using images...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Rocks and Processes of the Rock Cycle: One Rocks Turns to Another...

For Students 6th - 9th
Geology scholars test their rock identification skills in an interactive that examines the rock cycle from the three main nodes of rocks. Other topics include visual clues to rock identity and the conditions needed to make rocks change...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Metamorphic Rock Classification: Changing Under Pressure

For Students 6th - 8th
Change is coming — but how much? Geology pupils discover the transformation of metamorphic rock using a well-rounded interactive. Topics include the effects of pressure and temperature on metamorphic rock, how time factors into the...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Sedimentary Rock Classification: How Old is That Layer?

For Students 9th - 12th
A timely resource illustrates the effects of the passing years on sedimentary rock formation! Young geologists discover just how long it takes to create shale, slate, and other sedimentary rocks. The interactive also shows...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Intrusive and Extrusive Igneous Rocks

For Students 6th - 12th
Check out a resource that's erupting with engaging material! Earth science scholars discover how igneous rocks form in a well-rounded interactive. They manipulate the cooling time of lava to watch crystals form, learn visual...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Igneous Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore igneous rocks by observing rock samples and considering cooling rates and composition. The third installment of a five-part geology series culminates in an activity where learners use igneous rock characteristics...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Metamorphic Rocks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Rocks can bend? Pupils investigate how heat and pressure produce metamorphic rocks by modeling them using clay, and then categorize samples based on observable characteristics. The lesson ends with a metamorphic rock identification...
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Lesson Plan
University of New Orleans

Rock Cycle and Rocks Lab

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Science rocks! Explore three types of rocks and the rock cycle with an igneous rocks experiment. Pupils discuss textures, composition, and learn how melts are formed from the Earth's crust. They weigh materials using a scientific scale...
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Unit Plan
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Volcanoes!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Give young geologists an up close and personal look at volcanoes with a series of hands-on earth science lessons. Whether they are investigating the properties of igneous rocks, building their own volcanoes, or making fudge to model the...
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Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Rocks & Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Take young geologists on an exploration of the rock cycle with this six-lesson earth science unit on rocks and minerals. Through a series of discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations your class will learn about the...
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Lesson Plan
Education Outside

Soil Composition & Discovery

For Teachers 2nd Standards
Organic or mineral? How does the matter matter? Second graders use their knowledge of the rock cycle to label the different components in garden soil.
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PPT
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Curated OER

Rocks: Mineral Mixtures

For Teachers 5th - 7th
A 22-slide set provides pretty much everything you need to teach the rock cycle except the actual specimens. All of the slides contain graphics or photographs to help describe the process, and most even have links to educational videos....
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Lesson Plan
Berkshire Museum

Backyard Rocks

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
You don't have to travel far to learn about rocks, just step outside, pick up a stone, and begin investigating. After taking a class walk around the school grounds collecting rocks, young scientists practice their skills of observation...
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Activity
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University of Miami

What is it? Weathering, Erosion, or Deposition?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Just as rocks move through the rock cycle, your giddy geologists will move descriptions around until they are all in the correct category. After cutting out several types of rock movement, learners determine whether the action is...
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Interactive3:00
Scholastic

Study Jams! The Rock Cycle

For Students 5th - 8th
Rock out with a song, video, and quiz about the rock cycle. Learn how it is similar to recycling, the different kinds of rocks, and how they form. There is a karaoke feature that allows learners to sing along, helping to cement the...
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Interactive1:35
Scholastic

Study Jams! Sedimentary Rocks

For Students 4th - 8th
Fascinating photos of sedimentary rocks and formations supply a brief overview for your geology class. By viewing these slides, learners discover that sedimentary rocks are made of tiny bits of rock, dirt, or shell that have settled,...
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Interactive1:35
Scholastic

Study Jams! Igneous Rocks

For Students 4th - 8th
Dynamic music pumps up viewers as they learn about intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks. Presentation slides include a graphic depiction of magma below Earth's surface , photographs of lava exploding and flowing, and close-ups of...
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Interactive1:35
Scholastic

Study Jams! Metamorphic Rocks

For Students 4th - 8th
Photographs of magnificent metamorphic rock formations make up the bulk of this brief slide show. Along with the upbeat background music, slow-moving slides, and informational captions of the slide show, you will also find key...
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Lesson Plan
Texas State University

Earth: Deposition and Lithification

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Geology geniuses analyze sediment samples with a hand lens and sort according to physical characteristics. They also learn about the processes of cementation, compaction, and lithification within the rock cycle. The lesson plan is...
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PPT
Curated OER

Earth Materials Module

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This slide show progresses through a comprehensive review of the grounding principles of earth science. Get down and dirty with the details of fossil fuels! Help your geologists to have a rock solid understanding of the rock cycle. The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Metamorphic Rocks and How are They Formed?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Even though the student handouts are not included in the write-up, this lesson contains the instructions for terrific activities to use when teaching middle schoolers about metamorphic rocks. First, they compare granite to gneiss and...