Rocks and Minerals: a geology unit with lab activities!

Description

Why Choose Wild Earth Lab?

Drawing on my environmental science background, I create accurate, engaging resources that make teaching easier. Original, thoughtfully designed visuals and hands-on activities help bring the real experience of being a scientist into your classroom.

Age Range

This unit is designed to be adaptable for a range of ages, with activities and materials that can be adjusted to meet different learners’ needs. It includes suggestions for ways to make lab activities simpler or more challenging, based on your students’ needs. It is suitable for learners from upper elementary school through high school and works well with mixed-age groups.

What’s Included?

(78 PDF pages total)

• PART 1: MINERALS:
  • • Intro reading for rocks & minerals
    • Common minerals poster
    • Properties of minerals handout
    • Moh’s hardness scale handout
    • Cleavage and fracture handout
    • Minerals Lab Activity 1: Meet the Minerals!
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student lab worksheets
    • Minerals Lab Activity 2: Properties of Minerals
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student lab worksheet
    • Mineral crossword puzzle
    • Mineral research project worksheets
• PART 2: THE ROCK CYCLE:
  • • Rocks & the rock cycle reading
    • Rock cycle diagram
    • Blank diagram and cut-out picture tiles for practice
    • The rock cycle in action poster
• PART 3: ROCKS:
  • • Common rocks poster
    • Igneous rocks reading & subtypes
    • Sedimentary rocks reading & subtypes
    • Metamorphic rocks reading & subtypes
    • Mafic and Felsic handout
    • Igneous composition handout
    • Igneous textures handout
    • Igneous textures matching worksheet
    • Sedimentary grain sizes handout
    • Weathering and erosion sorting activity
    • Steps of sedimentary rock formation diagram
    • Sedimentary rock formation activity – put the steps in order
    • Metamorphic foliation handout
    • Rock Lab Activity: Sorting/comparing rocks and identifying rock type & subtype
      • • Instructor guide
        • Student worksheets
    • Rock word search
    • Rock research project worksheets
• Mineral ID flashcards
• Rock ID flashcards
• Instructor materials: directions/guides and answer key
• Access to additional online materials: background information and more ways to expand on this topic.

Good to Know

• Single-classroom use: Materials are for personal and single-classroom use only and may not be shared or distributed. Contact me about multiple licenses for schools or organizations.
• Digital product: This is an instant PDF download, designed for printing on standard 8.5 × 11-inch paper. Due to the nature of digital products, purchases are non-refundable.
• Adult supervision: Activities should be completed with appropriate adult supervision.
• Terms & Conditions: See the full terms & conditions.