Rock Lesson Plans

1. Brick Pebbles- Describe the effects of abrasion (weathering) on the shape and size of brick Fragments.
2. Bricks Soak Up Water- Determine whether rocks have pore spaces within them.
3. Classifying Rocks- Students will classify rocks by properties.
4. Coal: More Than Meets the Eye!- Energy resources are unevenly distributed. Students will participate in a hands-on simulation to help them understand that coal resources are deposited unevenly between the earth's surface and under the ground.
5. Creating a Classroom Exhibit: Investigating Rocks and Minerals- Describe rock and mineral specimens based on close observation.

1. Fossils and Rocks- . Students will acquire an understanding of processes of rock formation. The study of fossils gives students another perspective of geologic time, allowing them to examine evidence of plants and animals which existed on the Earth a long time ago.
2. Igneous Rocks/Volcanoes- Students will differentiate between the two types of igneous rock and designate the area the rock comes from.
3. Making Fossils- Students will better understand how fossils are created by making their own.
4. Making Sandstone- Students will make sandstone.
5. Making Sedimentary Rocks- Students should understand that sedimentary rocks like coal are formed by the cementing together of smaller pieces of rocks. Or, like coal, from the accumulation of plant material.
6. Metamorphic Rock Activities- Students will understand that metamorphic rocks are sedimentary igneous, or other metamorphic rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure.
7. Metamorphic Rock: Melting Rocks- Students will observe and gain a better understanding of the metamorphosing power of heat.
8. Metamorphic Sandwiches: "Bread Rock"- To graphically show how metamorphic rock is formed by pressure and heat.
9. Mountain Barriers- Desert conditions can be caused by the uplift of a mountain range that creates a barrier that blocks off rain to an area.
10. Peanut Brittle Volcano- Students will see simulated lava flow down a simulated volcano. Students will learn that lava cools fastest on the surface.
11. Pebble Jar- Recognize differences between different pebbles. Describe a pebble as to color, size or shape.
12. RAPTOR ROCKS- Paleontologists rarely find complete skeletons. They, like you, need to use their knowledge of other animals, hints about the environment, and their imaginations to reconstruct the animal.
13. Rock Collecting- Students will practice classifying rocks in the categories sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.
14. Rock Critters/Pet Rock- Children love to create rock critters. Have the children collect some rocks (coal) of different shapes and sizes. After you have a mountain of these rocks you can start.
15. Rock Goodies- The students will learn the difference between sedimentary and metamorphic.
16. Rocks- Old rocks on Earth’s surface are gradually reduced to tiny pieces, or sediments, by erosion caused by water, wind, or glacial ice.
17. Sedimentary Rock Activities- Students will understand that most sedimentary rocks such as coal are formed under the water and in swamps, lakes, seas, and oceans.
18. Water Magic- This activity will introduce new vocabulary and will serve as a building block to future lessons on the water cycle. Students will use experiences from their everyday lives to practice the above skills.
19. What is a Mineral?- Mineral identification lab.