Earth Science Lesson Plan printable pdf download

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Rock ‘n Roll

Subject Area: Earth Science

Unit Title: Types of Rocks

Grade Level: 4th & 5th grade

Objectives: To gain an understanding of the different types of rocks and how they are formed.

Colorado Content Standards to be covered:

SCIENCE

Standard I - Students understand the processes of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate

about, and evaluate such investigations.

Standard II - Physical Science: Students know and understand common properties, forms, and changes in mat-

ter and energy.

Standard IV - Earth and Space Science: Students know and understand the processes and interactions of earth’s

systems and the structure and dynamics of earth and other objects in space.

Materials:

• copy of the “Types of Rocks” mind map handout (last page)

• several different kinds of rocks, such as granite, sandstone, or limestone

• plastic bottle or container

• water

Anticipatory Set: Ask your students to fill in the “Types of Rocks” Mind Map on the characteristics of differ-

ent types of rocks as you read them the information below.

Input:

There are three main types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous.

Sedimentary rocks are made up of layers of silt, sand, small pieces of rock and, sometimes, fossils of plants

and animals. These pieces are carried by water, wind or ice and settle in layers. Over many, many years, these

layers harden and become similar to concrete. Sandstone is formed from tiny sand pieces, and shale rock is

formed by tiny pieces of clay. Limestone is made of pieces of shell, and pebbles make up conglomerate.

Sometimes, when hillsides are cut away to build roads, you can see stripes in the rocks on the side of the road.

These stripes are actually layers of rock deposited in prehistoric times. The Hogback Geological Exhibit near

Golden, Colorado, is an example of this. If you go west of Denver on I-70, you can walk along a trail and see all

the sedimentary layers. The striped-looking rock formations in the Grand Canyon are a spectacular example of

sedimentary rock that was eroded (washed away) by the Colorado River.

Igneous rocks are made from cooled and hardened magma. Magma, or lava, is very hot liquid rock from deep

inside the earth. Basalt is created when lava comes to the surface of the earth and cools quickly. The Hawaiian

Islands were created from volcanic eruptions and the lava that poured down the mountainsides. Granite is anoth-

er type of igneous rock formed inside the earth that doesn’t come to the surface as a liquid. The magma is

pushed into other rocks and then cools slowly. This type of rock contains crystals. Some mountains, such as the

Rocky Mountains, are made of igneous rocks.

Earth Science Lesson Plan