Fun & Interactive Rocks and Mineral Activities for Elementary Students
Fascinated With Stones, Pebbles, and Boulders
Kids are naturally interested in rocks. How many times have we witnessed students climbing on large boulders, collecting rocks, or throwing pebbles in the river? Educating sstudents on rocks and minerals is an important and fun part of elementary science curriculum.
The Earth is composed of three main types of rock. The mountains, riverbeds and canyons that beautify our Earth are composed of rocks and minerals. These rocks are forever being changed and transformed through weathering, heat, or volcanic eruptions. The changes leave us with the three main types of rocks, which include sedimentary, ingenious, and metamorphic rocks. Below you will find information on each of these types of rocks, how to identify them and unique lessons and activities that will keep kids curious about rocks and the Earth in which we live. Our experts have put together several rock and mineral lessons, activities and crafts to make learning about sedimentary, ingenious and metamorphic rocks a blast for children of all ages.
Rocks and Minerals Activities and Lessons
Get students excited about our Earth and what it is composed of by using these unique minerals and rocks lesson plans. The activities below use a variety of learning styles to teach children about minerals and rocks. Some lessons include learning about the rock cycle, identification, how rocks are formed, and the three main types of rocks. Activities include holding a rock election, dressing up like the fifties, shaving crayons, and more that are sure to be a big hit in your classroom.
Kindergarten
Primary Grades
- Geology Lesson Plan: Identifying Rocks and Minerals
- Three Simple Rock Activities
- The Great Rock Election: Unique Activity Idea
- Observe & Learn the Properties of Rocks: 1st Grade Science Lesson
- Teaching About Rock Layers with Food
- Webquest of the Rock Cycle
Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks are one of the three main types of rock formations. They result when liquid magma from volcanic eruptions cools and turns into a solid under the ground. The activities below give kids and in-depth look at what creates these rocks, the volcano. Children learn how a volcano is formed, what makes a volcano erupt, and more with these fun, interactive activities.
- How a Volcano Forms: 5th Grade Science
- Terms and Definitions About Volcanoes for Kids
- How to Make a Baking Soda & Vinegar Volcano
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are created when the rain, snow or wind have washed minerals, sand, and rock particles together. Fossils are animal or plant remains from thousands of years ago. The majority of fossils can be found in sedimentary rocks. Children love studying about fossils and how they are formed by making one of their own, digging for dinosaur bones, and participating in fun experiments. In addition, children will learn about the natural resources that come from fossil fuels and minerals that can be found in and around our Earth.
- 2nd Grade Science: Create Your Own Fossil
- 2nd Grade Science: Digging up Bones & Fossils
- Stuck in the Mud: Experimenting With Fossils
- The Process of Rock Weathering
- Science Lab: How do Sedimentary Layers Form?
- Earth Layers Art Project
Studying about our Earth and the minerals and rocks it is made up of is anything but boring. With the right rocks and minerals study, kids will stay fascinated and curious about Earth science. The lessons, activities and crafts above are engaging, unique and a blast for children of all ages.
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Photo by Lisa King
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