Geology

In this lab, students will identify up to 6 igneous rocks. They will practice using a dichotomous key in order to ID their rocks. Students will have a better understanding of igneous rock texture, composition, and color. There are four questions at the end of the lab that will review crystallization, intrusive and extrusive rocks. I give this assignment after our study on igneous rocks, so this is a great assessment activity as well. I have also included my own thoughts and instructions to help you implement this activity in your classroom.

Students will research 8 common metamorphic rocks. Marble, quartzite, hornfels, slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss, and amphibolite. Students will have a better understanding of what foliated vs. non-foliated rocks look like. They will understand what a parent rock is and review some of their mineral knowledge by researching what some of the most dominant minerals are in these particular metamorphic rocks. Finally, when they are done they will discuss with their groups some higher-order thinking questions that will drive the class discussion when the assignment is completed.

In this activity, students will hone their observation, inference, and making conclusions skill by trying their best to use a dichotomous classification key to determine the name of their rocks. This Earth Science lab also contains a dichotomous key used for teaching students how sedimentary rocks are classified.

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Other rock and mineral identification labs can be found at:

In this assignment, students will explore 25 features found in North and South America. They will circle, outline, and label specific locations on maps of North and South America. In the teacher instructions, you can also find a link to a Presentation that shows and discusses the geology and uniqueness of many of these locations.

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In this one-day activity students will read and learn about the different types of landforms that are out there. They will then, as groups, create a Google Doc and create a table within it. They will find examples, describe the origins, and find an image that represents, coastal plains, interior plains, folded mountains, upwarped mountains, fault-block mountains, volcanic mountains, and plateaus. After they are done students will share some unique discoveries that they have made with the class and compare them with their discoveries with those of others.

In this activity, students will use Google Earth to find the coordinates of some awesome Geologic Formations. Students will have a greater understanding of latitude and longitude. They will gain an understanding of how to use Google Earth to make discoveries. A link to a presentation that contains images and the geology behind many of the formations is also available. There are two parts to the assignment. First students will type in the coordinates into Google Earth to make a discovery.

In this activity, students will engage in a topographic map exercise. When a student is finished they will understand what contour lines, elevation, contour interval, contour index, and quadrants are. Students will analyze a map of Snowflake AZ, you can pick your own map if you wish, and discover why it is important to understand topographic maps.

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In this exercise, students will use a Geologic map to discover what types of rocks, faults, and ages of those rocks are. They will read about the different environments that Arizona has had over the ages. They will also get a review on words like conglomerate, intrusions, sills, igneous and sedimentary rocks.

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In this assignment, students will find images of rocks and rock formations that demonstrate that weathering has occurred. They will create a Google presentation that demonstrates the mechanisms and agents of weathering involved. They will also describe the type of climate that would have helped form this rock. Students will then present their findings to the class. Hopefully, you will get many different images of awesome rock formations.

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In this activity students are going to find a small rock, decide what rock type it is, weight it, place it in a tumbler and then over a two week period observe it to see how much mass a rock can lose if it went through a 24 hour a day process of bouncing around other rocks. Students will get a first-hand look at the power behind water and abrasion. Students will make a statement of conclusion and calculate the rate of mass decrease.

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