In this post, I'll be sharing materials and ideas aligned with the fifth grade geology standards under SOL 5.7. The main concepts include rock types, the rock cycle, Earth's history and fossils, Earth's Layers and plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and how human's can protect the environment.
Recommended Books:
One of the best ways to reach all students in your room is by using text sets at various reading levels. Often, science textbooks aren't geared to the reading levels of the students you are teaching, so it may be necessary to supplement with other reading options. We know with repeated reading, it increases the likelihood that students will remember the concepts. Here's a bibliography of books by topic to get you started.Rock Types:
Rhoda's Rock Hunt by Mollie Beth Griffin
National Geographic Rocks and Minerals by Kathleen Zoehfeld
Learning about Rocks by Mari Schuh
National Geographic Rocks and Minerals by Kathleen Zoehfeld
Learning about Rocks by Mari Schuh
Rock Cycle:
The Rock Factory: The Story about the Rock Cycle by Jacqui Bailey
What is the Rock Cycle? by Natalie Hyde
Super Simple Rock Cycle Projects by Jessie Alkire
Fossils:
Rocks and Fossils by Anna Claybourne
Curious about Fossils by Kate Waters
Fossils Tell about Long Ago by Aliki
Curious about Fossils by Kate Waters
Fossils Tell about Long Ago by Aliki
Plate Tectonics:
Fault Lines and Tectonic Plates by Kathleen Reilly
Plate Tectonics by Julia Quinlan
Weathering and Erosion:
Weathering and Erosion by Maria Nelson
Erosion and Weathering (Rocks: The Hard Facts) by Willa Dee
Weathering and Erosion by Torrey Maloaf
Protecting the Environment:
What a Waste! by Jess French
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Recycle! A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons
Activities that Support Geology Studies:
As you're planning your science unit, check out this list of ideas.
Types of Rocks (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)
- Rock Sorting Lab-Give students a tray of rocks (or photos if samples aren’t available) and have them sort by observable properties: color, texture, hardness, layers, crystals.
- Make Your Own Sedimentary Rock-Layer sand, soil, pebbles, and chalk shavings in a clear cup. Add water and press down to model compaction and cementation.
- Crayon Rock Cycle (Rock Types Focus)-Shave crayons, heat them gently, press them, and reshape to model how different rock types form.
- Rock ID Cards-Students create “trading cards” for each rock type with characteristics, formation process, and real-world examples.
- Igneous Cooling Experiment-Compare fast vs. slow cooling using melted chocolate or wax to model extrusive vs. intrusive igneous rocks.
Weathering and Erosion
Here are a few ideas you can use for the weathering and erosion part of the unit. I especially love the idea of weathering stations.
- Weathering Stations-
- Rotate through stations showing different types of weathering:
- Ice wedging (freeze water in a bottle)
- Chemical weathering (vinegar on chalk or limestone)
- Abrasion (shake rocks in a jar)
- Erosion Stream Table-Use sand, soil, and water in a tray to show how rivers carve land and transport sediment.
- Wind Erosion Demo-Blow through straws at sand piles to observe movement and dune formation.
- Before-and-After Rock Photos-Students predict how rocks will change after weathering and match photos to processes.
- Erosion Comic Strip-Students draw a comic showing erosion in action (river, glacier, wind, waves).
The Rock Cycle
The rock cycle is a big part of this unit, and it's a lot of fun to teach. There are lots of resources out there, but here are a few activity ideas you can also include:
- Rock Cycle Wheel or Flip Book-Students create a spinner or foldable showing processes like melting, erosion, deposition, heat, and pressure.
- Rock Cycle Role Play-Each student becomes a rock and acts out transformations based on cards drawn.
- Interactive Anchor Chart-Build a large class chart together using arrows, labels, and real rock images.
- Story Writing: “A Rock’s Journey”-Students write a narrative from the perspective of a rock moving through the cycle.
Culminating Project Ideas:
To pull everything together, check out these ideas for the end of your unit.
- Geology Escape Room-Puzzles about rock types, erosion clues, plate boundaries, and rock cycle steps.
- Create-a-Landform Project-Students design a landform and explain how weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics shaped it.
- Rock Museum-Students curate exhibits with rock samples, diagrams, and explanations.
- STEM Challenge-Design a structure that can withstand erosion or earthquakes.
For a few more ideas and done for you resources from our team, check out these great resources.
Resources from the Virginia is for Teachers Team:
Earth Science Bundle by Glitter in Third
This digital resource from Glitter in Third addresses SOL5.7. It includes digital graphic organizers and foldables that you can use in combination with your other instructional materials to help your students with research and note taking. It also includes drag and drop labeling for assessment. $15.00
Geology Unit by Vestal's 21st Century Classroom
From Vestal's 21st Century Classroom, check out this all inclusive unit has lesson plans, experiment ideas, center activities, word wall materials, a quiz and a test in digital for Google Slides TM and PDF. It addesses all standards under 5.7 including layers of the Earth, plate techtonics, rock types, the Rock Cycle, weathering and erosion. It sells for $14.00
Rockin' the Rock Cycle Partner Play by Comprehension Connection
This FUN partner play from Comprehension Connection is great for integrating reading with your geology unit. This partner play works well for small group reading lessons and helps students who may need a little extra support review key concepts in SOL 5.7. The reading level is approximately 4th grade, and the set includes close reading activities for repeated reading and comprehension reinforcement. $4.00
Geology Task Cards by Vestal's 21st Century Classroom
Also from Vestal's 21st Century Classroom, you'll find this task card set of 28 question cards, 2 student response sheets, and an answer key. Questions are open-ended and fill in the blank. They make a great science center, SCOOT activity, or review game! Topics include the layers of the Earth, plate tectonics, types of rocks, the rock cycle, weathering, erosion, and deposition. This set sells for $3.00.
Geology Close Reading Sets by The Techie Teacher
Although Julie, The Techie Teacher, no longer lives in Virginia, she'll always be a VA Blogger! This set in her store is aligned with SOL 5.7 and offers another cross curricular option to support your science standards during the ELA block. There are four reading passages with comprehension questions. $3.50
Free Resources to Download:
Geology is a really fun unit to teach, and kids really do find more interest in rocks after the unit is complete. With emphasis on weathering and erosion as well as environmental studies, hopefully your students will also become good stewards for our planet too. Thanks for visiting, and if you have suggestions for this unit, please add them in the comments.
