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!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sediment Sleuths

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Are you looking for a good, solid lesson on sedimentary rocks? This one, produced by the Illinois State Museum, is just such a lesson. Middle schoolers identify common rocks and minerals by analyzing sediments from local water sources....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look At Rocks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write letters to organizations, such as United States Geological Society, to find out more about rocks. Students write about a pretend time they found a magic pebble. Students calculate distances to travel to see various...
Interactive
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals Internet Hunt

For Students 4th - 5th
In this rocks and minerals worksheet, students use provided links to research questions about rocks and minerals, and complete internet activities given, using links provided.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Using Rocks and Ores Worksheet

For Students 9th - 12th
In this chemistry worksheet, high schoolers answer 15 short answer questions about rocks and ores. They explore write balanced chemical reactions from word equations given.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Mineral Identification

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between a rock and a mineral? And what properties are used to identify minerals? The first installment of a five-part series on earth materials and processes prompts young scientists to identify a set of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Uses of Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the uses of rocks and minerals. They make observations to identify objects from the present and past are made out of rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geology Rocks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss information relating to Illinois geology. They examine top mineral resources in Illinois to find detailed information about geodes and where they can be found. Students complete geode lab to explore external structure of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using KidPix

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover how to use a software program known as KidPix. They create a slideshow noting the differences between rocks and minerals. They share their slides with the class.
Interactive
Scholastic

Study Jams! Minerals

For Students 4th - 8th
All that glitters is not gold! In this nine-slide show, your mineralogists gain insight on the formation and properties of the building blocks of rocks. Beautiful and sparkling photographs make the presentation pleasing to the eye, and...
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...
PPT
1
1
Curated OER

Minerals of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Unearth this gem of a resource to use in your geology unit! With colorful images, bullet-point text, and links to related videos, it deals with the characteristics, properties, and identification of minerals. There are also slides...
PPT
Curated OER

Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 8th
A must-have for your geology library of resources, this PowerPoint walks viewers through the characteristics of minerals and each test used to help identify them. As you present this collection of slides, stop to demonstrate each quality...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2010

For Students 9th - 12th
Every topic under the sun is covered in this New York State Regents High School Examination. With the focus of earth science, participants answer 85 quesitons about the solar system, geologic time, rocks and minerals, landforms, and...
PPT
1
1
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....
Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Rocks, Rocks, Rocks: Test, Identify Properties and Classify

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Time is growing short. Teams work together to identify physical properties of rocks in order to determine the properties that would best suit their cavern shelter design.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Different Minerals

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this minerals worksheet, students read about the relationship between elements, rocks and minerals. They experiment using 6 different colored gumdrops to represent 6 common elements. Students construct gumdrop and toothpick models of...
PPT
Curated OER

The Rock and Fossil Record

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Go deep in your paleontology unit with this spectacular set of slides! It introduces viewers to the types of fossils, a few famous fossils, and the geologic eras. This is done with easy-to-read text, diagrams, photos, and even videos. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Percent Deviation Rocks and Minerals

For Students 7th - 12th
For this rocks and minerals worksheet, students calculate the percent deviation from various mass measurements taken of rocks or minerals. This worksheet has 10 problems to solve.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

4.2: Exploring Rocks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars collect and look at rocks and write down information about them in science notebooks. They make comparisons and sort the rocks according to their properties, and then discuss their findings with their classmates and put...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks and Minerals: Sedimentary Rocks

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore the concept of rock formation. In this sedimentary rocks lesson, students observe and record their findings about sedimentary rocks. Students then create limestone, coal, and sandstone models and write reports...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Google Earth Geology Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Learners take a virtual field trip around California using Google Earth. In this geology field trip instructional activity, students explore landforms and a variety of rocks located in California.  Learners compare environments...
Lesson Plan
1
1
California Academy of Science

What Kind of Geologist Am I?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Transform your class into young geologists as they learn about six different branches of geology. Using the included geology career descriptions and picture cards, learners work in small groups deciding which tools and locations fit...
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.