Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Rock Investigation

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
For this activity students will observe and investigate rocks in order to classify them in terms of color, shape, texture and size.
Handout
Amethyst Galleries

Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Opal

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides general information on opal, including color, hardness, uses, and pictures.
Website
Amethyst Galleries

Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: Jade

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource has general information on jade, and provides a physical description.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Rocks

For Students K - 1st
What are rocks? Learn about the different types of rocks and how they are formed.
Unknown Type
SRI International

Performance Assessment Links in Science: Classifying Rocks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This is a performance task where students sort and classify rocks based on their properties, then demonstrate how they can transfer their understanding to decide on ways they might sort and classify other types of objects.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Rocks and Minerals

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will research a rock or mineral to find out some of its properties and uses. Each student will then complete a slide presentation to present findings.
Lesson Plan
HotChalk

Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Exploration of Rocks

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
This lesson is designed to allow young children to explore rocks by engaging in a rock-collecting hunt, and then recording information about their favorite rocks on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Collecting and Identifying Rocks

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students investigate rocks in an outdoor field trip, and then place them into groups by characteristics. The different groups could be the size, shape, color, and texture of the rocks. After classifying, students are introduced to the...
Activity
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Ck 12: Plix: Intrusive and Extrusive Igneous Rock

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An interactive animation demonstrating how the mineral crystal in an igneous rock formed due to the cooling magma. Site also includes a short quiz on the formation of the crystal.
Website
Amethyst Galleries

Amethyst Galleries: Mineral Gallery: The Mineral Hornblende

For Students 9th - 10th
Beginning with a list of physical characteristics, this resource explains hornblende is actually a series of minerals such as Magnesio-hornblende, Ferrohornblende, and Alumino-ferro-hornblende.
Interactive
Utah Education Network

Uen: Rocks and Soils: What Kind of Rock Am I?

For Students 9th - 10th
Test your knowledge of different types of rocks by taking a quiz. Determine if each picture shows an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock.
Handout
James Madison University

James Madison University: Keys to Igneous Rock Classification

For Students 9th - 10th
Click for different identification keys for igneous rocks to help you classify them correctly. Includes various color/texture keys as well as classification charts. (NOTE: At the time of writing this, the PDF links were configured...
Lesson Plan
Minerals Ed

Minerals Ed: Introducing the Rock Cycle by Creating a 3 D Model [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
In this lesson geared toward primary students, they will learn about the three different kinds of rocks, how they are formed and how to recognize the unique characteristics by building a 3D model.
Unknown Type
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

Jefferson Lab: Reading Passage: Minerals

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read and fill in the blanks of this passage explaining minerals. Each blank has a dropdown menu with choices. When you finish, click CHECK MY ANSWERS. If you pick a wrong answer, the right answer will be displayed along with your choice.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Rocks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this classroom guided inquiry lesson, students will become geologists. They will investigate rocks and the properties we can use to describe them. Students will observe, record, and reflect on their findings. They will record their...
Interactive
Math Science Nucleus

I. Science Ma Te: Integrating Science, Math and Technology

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site offers a wealth of online textbook-related materials that encourage the discovery of science in the world around us. Enter the site to access material on specific topics. Each section contains reading material (complete with...
Lesson Plan
Teachers.net

Teachers.net: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site features a lesson plan for William Steig's "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." Come and check out this creative activity.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Nhmu: Rock and Mineral Uses

For Teachers 2nd
Learn about the various uses of rocks and minerals.
Lesson Plan
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Is It a Rock or Mineral? [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
For this lesson, students will compare types of candy to learn about geological classification. Students will classify and sort different materials by their composition and physical properties.
Handout
James Madison University

Barrovian Metamorphism and Metamorphic Grade: Facies, Zones, and Index Minerals

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what Barrovian metamorphism is and the evolution of rocks as they are transformed by metamorphism. The process of burial, heat, and pressure that causes metamorphism is described. The concepts of metamorphic facies, grades,...
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: "To This We Dissented": The Rock Springs Riot

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the description of the Rock Springs massacre written by the Chinese workers who lived through the massacre and presented to the Chinese Consul in New York. Included is a report of an investigation of those who died in the massacre....
Interactive
BBC

Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Materials: Rocks and Soils

For Students 3rd - 5th
Save Earth from the evil villain who is draining all the life from it. Following the activity, read more about rocks and soil, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.
Graphic
Other

Natural Resources Canada: Annual Statistics of Mineral Production

For Students 9th - 10th
This chart shows the mineral production of Canada by province and territory.
Website
Other

Permanent: Lunar Materials: Other Minerals

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides information on minerals found on the moon. (PERMANENT stands for Projects to Employ Resources of the Moon and Asteroids Near Earth in the Near Term.)

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