Rocks Resources

Lesson Ideas and Resources

• Lesson - Introducing the Rock Cycle

  Rock Hounds - How Rocks Are Created- A great site for basic information on the three types of rocks.  Use the pages listed below to introduce students to each type of rock by having them take notes on the handout provided below.

• How Igneous Rocks are Formed

• How Sedimentary Rocks are Formed

• How Metamorphic Rocks are Formed

• How Rocks are Formed Handout - pdf format to be used with Rock Hounds site

BrainPop - Rock Cycle Movie
Great 2 minute movie on the rock cycle with a multiple choice quiz at the end.  FYI- You can only play a movie twice in one day on any one machine unless you subscribe, so preview a day ahead.
 

Hollywood Squares Rock Game- Download and save a copy of this PowerPoint game played like tic-tac-toe, the kids love it. It works great as a culminating activity for this lesson.  Right click on the link and choose "Save Target As..." to download a copy to your computer.  It doesn't play very well through the browser.  Rocks Game

Websites for Research and Information

• How are Rocks Formed? - Gives basic information and includes two tables, one on the types of rocks, one on Moh's Hardness scale.
  
• The Rock Cycle and Monument Match Game - This page gives an overview in more detail of the rock cycle.  Also check out the link at the bottom to the monument match game where you match monuments to the type of rock they are made of.
  
• Related Rock Resources - Books, websites and activities from another rock unit that can be incorporated into any study of rocks.
  
• Rocks and Minerals Slide Show - Links to pictures of several different examples of each type of rock and examples of minerals.

Webquests and Online Activities

• Digging for Rocks Webquest - A great webquest for 3rd grade students beginning to study the three types of rocks.
  
• Geomysteries with Rex the Dino Detective - Click on GeoMysteries with Rex to enter the site.  Solve three mysteries with Rex while learning about rocks.