Rock and Minerals Lesson Plans

• Classifying Rocks- Students will classify rocks by properties.
• 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.

1. Igneous Rocks/Volcanoes- Students will differentiate between the two types of igneous rock and designate the area the rock comes from.
2. Making Fossils- Students will better understand how fossils are created by making their own.
3. Making Sandstone- Students will make sandstone.
4. 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.
5. Metamorphic Rocks - Use oral language to discuss how the variation of heat and pressure form various metamorphic rocks.
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. Peanut Brittle Volcano- Students will see simulated lava flow down a simulated volcano. Students will learn that lava cools fastest on the surface.
10. Rock and Mineral Attributes - The learner will demonstrate knowledge of grouping rocks by sorting them according to their attributes.
11. Rock Collecting- Students will practice classifying rocks in the categories sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.
12. 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.
13. Rock Goodies- The students will learn the difference between sedimentary and metamorphic.
14. Rock Cycle - Students will gain an understanding of how a rock can move through the different stages of the rock cycle.
15. Rock cycle and Biomes - Students investigates rock cycles (erosion, soil types) as variable making biomes unique.
16. 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.
17. Types of Rocks - TLW describe the relationship between rocks and minerals.
18. What is a Mineral?- Mineral identification lab.