Science

Use this assignment to help students understand the difference between a mineral and other objects that they might think are minerals. The activity doesn't take long but when you are discussing what a mineral actually is, this assignment gives your students practice. Students have a list of words that they need to sort into columns. One column is for minerals, the other column is for non-minerals. If they place an object into the non-mineral section they need to justify which rule was broken.

This is an assignment I give my students before they actually take their mineral identification test. In this activity, the minerals have already gone through the individual characteristics tests such as luster, hardness, color, streak, and other mineral properties. This assignment is to give students practice using a dichotomous key that can help them identify minerals. This assignment also contains vocabulary words commonly used when identifying minerals.

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In this 7-12 Earth Science lab, students will get a chance to hone in on their observation and inference skills. Students will work in groups to observe 4 different rocks. They will make inferences about the environment that the rocks came from as well as take an educated guess as to which rock type the rock belongs, igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary. Students will write those observations down and then share one of their rocks to the class. This lab is meant to be done before getting into the nitty-gritty of rocks which will happen in the nest assignment.

Looking for a new way to teach the rock cycle? Check out this exciting twist on a classic activity from EducationalResource.org! In this activity, students roll a die and follow instructions to create their own unique rock cycle. This hands-on approach helps students understand that there is no one set path for a rock to follow as it undergoes the process of becoming a new type of rock. As a class, students can share their individual rock cycle paths and compare them to see the infinite possibilities that exist within the rock cycle.

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.