Science: Rocks and Minerals

These sites describe various rocks and minerals. Learn about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and some of the more common minerals. Includes hands-on activities, games, photographs, and two animated movies. There are links to eThemes Resources on fossils and erosion.

Grades

• 3,
• 4,
• 5,
• 6

Links

• ThinkQuest: A Wonderful World of Minerals

  Click on "Minerals" to learn about them. "Games" has a word search and rock memory game. "Growing Crystals" is a science experiment.

  translate link
• ThinkQuest: Rock Activities

  This page contains many different hands-on activities that have to do with rocks.

  translate link
• ThinkQuest: Rock or Mineral

  This site briefly defines both rocks and minerals. Click on "Identification" to see how they are classified.

  translate link
• Map of Minerals in the United States

  Click on the pointing hand to see a map of the U.S. Click on the state to learn what minerals are from that area.

  translate link
• The Mystery of the Floating Rock

  Help solve the mystery by learning about different types of rocks. Try to figure out how the floating rock was formed. Click on the picture at the bottom to see if that is the correct answer.

  translate link
• Online Geology Word Search

  You can complete this word search online or print it out. This activity can also be used on the SMARTboard.

  translate link
• Onine Geology Quiz

  See how much you know about rocks and minerals by taking this online quiz.

  translate link
• Smithsonian: Kids Collecting

  Click on "Start" and then enter the site. Click on "Amazing Collections" and then "Rocks and Minerals" to learn about rocks and minerals at the Smithsonian. Use the links at the left to find out how to start and care for your own collection.

  translate link
• Mineral Information Institute

  This site has photographs of minerals and includes background information about them, although the text is not written for elementary students.

  translate link
• USGS: Underground Mines

  This five-page PDF file lists the underground mines that are in use in different states across the nation.

  translate link
• USGS: Utah

  This eight-page PDF file includes a map of Utah highlighting where different minerals are found.

  translate link
• USGS: Missouri

  This seven-page PDF file includes a map of Missouri highlighting where different minerals are found.

  translate link
• Geo Mysteries

  This children's museum site explains how different rocks are formed.

  translate link
• How Rocks and Minerals Are Formed

  This school site has a student report and includes a Venn diagram of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.

  translate link
• The Rock Cycle

  See a diagram showing the rock cycle. Read how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are formed.

  translate link
• Quia: Dig into Geology

  This site has four games about rocks and minerals.

  translate link
• Quia: Hangman

  Play this hangman game that uses words related to rocks and minerals.

  translate link
• Enchanted Learning: Rock and Mineral Dictionary

  Click on the letters to go to different parts of the dictionary and read entries about rocks and minerals.

  translate link
• BBC: Rocks and the Rock Cycle

  This site provides information targeted for young audiences about different types of rock and its cycle with illustrations. NOTE: This site has a link that leads to a discussion forum.

  translate link
• BBC: Rocks and Soils

  Testing rocks in terms of their properties through an interactive workshop. NOTE: This site has a link that leads to a discussion forum.

  translate link
• McGraw Hill: Earth's Rocks and Soil

  Read this page to learn about types of rock and take a short quiz at the end of the page.

  translate link
• eThemes Resource: Science: Properties of Rocks and Soil

  These sites have information about rocks and soil. Learn about their different properties, how rocks are made, and how soil is formed. There are interactive pages, quizzes, and many ideas for in-class activities. Included are three related eThemes resources on soil, rocks, and erosion.

  translate link
• eThemes Resource: Fossils

  These sites focus on fossils and include information about paleontologists, dinosaurs, and petrification. View photographs of actual fossils. Includes a link to an eThemes Resource on dinosaurs.

  translate link
• eThemes Resource: Weathering and Erosion

  These sites focus on the process and effects of weathering and erosion. See examples of landslides, valleys, and other results of erosion and weathering. Includes an eThemes on rocks and minerals and one on Missouri's geography and landforms.

  translate link

Education Standards

• AR
  • ESS.8.3.1.a
  • ESS.8.3.2.a
  • ESS.8.3.2.b
  • ESS.8.3.2.c
  • ESS.8.3.2.d
  • ESS.8.3.3.a
  • ESS.8.3.3.b
  • ESS.8.3.3.c
  • ESS.8.5.13
  • ESS.8.5.7
  • ESS.8.5.9
• ME
  • D2.d
  • E5.a
• MO
  • 1
  • 1.1
  • 1.10
  • 1.2
  • 1.3
  • 1.4
  • 1.6
  • 1.8
  • 2.1
  • 2.7
  • 3.1
  • 3.2
  • 3.3
  • 3.5
  • 4.8
  • 5
  • 5.1.A.a
  • 5.1.A.b
  • 5.2.A.a
  • 5.2.A.b
  • 6
  • 7
• UT
  • III.1.a
  • III.1.b
  • III.1.c
  • III.1.d
  • III.2.a
  • III.2.d
  • III.3.a
  • IV.1.b
  • IV.2.a
• NV
  • E.5.C.4
  • E.8.C.1
  • E.8.C.2
• OK
  • D.3.1
  • D.3.1
• DE
  • 1.1.12
  • 1.1.20
  • 1.1.21
  • 5.1.1
  • 5.1.2
  • 5.2.3
• IL
  • 12.4.33
  • 12.4.34

Request State Standards

Created: October 24, 2001 at 12:51 | Updated: November 28, 2012 at 20:04