Get your classroom rocking with this four-lesson earth science unit. Through a series of shared reading activities and hands-on investigations, young geologists learn about the three types of rocks and the unique properties of each.

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...

Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and...

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...

Fifth graders explore volcanoes and the rocks they produce using the Internet. The lab portion of the lesson prompts young scientists to compare and describe igneous rocks. Next, they critique a pair or more of...

Discover how rocks are formed from volcanoes during a geology pre-lab activity. Third graders describe the volcanic rock samples and creating a model of Mt. Lassen, located in California. The lesson culminates in...

Fifth graders continue their investigation of the plate tectonics cycle with an exploration of the movement of Earth's crust. During the lab, young geologists conduct an experiment to discover the result of different types of...

The pre-lab portion of the lesson introduces emerging geologists to the various layers that make up Earth. After completing a sheet on the identification of the layers, class members simulate plate boundaries and their...

Young geologists begin exploring volcanoes of different structures and states: active, extinct, or dormant. During the lab, they make three models and compare different types of volcanoes, including composite, cinder cone, and...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents igneous rocks, which form from magma, and the two types: dense, dark mafic and less dense, light felsic. Also covers Bowen's Reaction Series.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents the classifications of igneous rocks based on silica content.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to classify igneous rocks.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Factors that determine the composition of an igneous rock.

Instructional module focusing on the rock cycle. Discussion includes the concept of uniformitarianism and how earth materials change from one form to another. The site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the features of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks that cool slowly and rapidly, respectively.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Determination of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents the three major rock types and the rock cycle.

Dig into the layers of activities exploring and investigating minerals and how they are related to both rocks and soil.