Rock out with the second installment of a five-part series on earth materials and processes. Your budding geologists make observations of given rock samples and posit classification systems for rocks. They then learn about the accepted classifications of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Concepts

igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, types of rocks, minerals

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Have learners bring in rock samples to classify as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic

Classroom Considerations

• Lesson assumes basic knowledge of the rock cycle
• Use the given strategies for differentiation based on class needs

Pros

• Pupils make conjectures about rock classifications using their observations rather than through direct instruction

Cons

• Journal/writing prompt references a pre-lesson activity using a chocolate bar, granola bar, and peppermint candy, but the student/teacher actions section does not include any information on this pre-lesson activity
• Reference to the "Fall Line" of Virginia may be unfamiliar to pupils and teachers outside Virginia
• Resource contains several typos