Description
Rock Cycle Activities & Reading Passages for Google Classroom
Make learning about the rock cycle fun and interactive with this Google Classroom activity pack! Perfect for elementary students, this no-prep, standards-aligned resource explores how rocks transform through hands-on digital activities and engaging reading passages.
With editable reading passages, drag-and-drop tasks, and short-answer questions, students will explore key concepts like igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and processes such as weathering, erosion, heat, and pressure. These interactive activities help students build a strong understanding of the rock cycle while developing critical thinking skills.
Rock Cycle Passages & Activities Includes the Following Google Slides:
- Introduction
- Editable reading passages
- Short answer: KWL chart
- Drag-&-drop: match the definitions to the vocabulary (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary)
- Drag-&-drop: identify rock classification properties (like composition, luster, color, hardness)
- Short answer: what do you notice about the igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks
Igneous rocks
- Independent web search: answer the questions about igneous rocks using a given website
- Drag-&-drop: identify intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks on a diagram
- Short answer: read a passage about igneous rock formations and answer what is an intrusive igneous rock and an extrusive igneous rock
- Image search: find three examples of igneous rocks
Sedimentary rocks
- Independent web search: answer the questions about sedimentary rocks using a given website
- Drag-&-drop: identify how sedimentary rocks are formed on a diagram
- Drag-&-drop: finish the paragraph about how sedimentary rocks are formed
- Image search: find three examples of sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic rocks
- Independent web search: answer the questions about metamorphic rocks using a given website
- Drag-&-drop: identify how metamorphic rocks are formed on a diagram
- Image search: find three examples of metamorphic rocks
The rock cycle
- Drag-&-drop: label the type of rock in the rock cycle as sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic
- Drag-&-drop: label the key on the rock cycle diagram
- Short answer: answer questions about the path of a rock cycle
- Drag-&-drop: label an intricate rock cycle (including terms like weathering, cooling & crystallization, melting, uplift, transportation, deposition, pressure and heat)
Why Teachers Love these Rock Cycle Activities:
- No Prep: Ready-to-assign on Google Classroom™ or platforms like Canvas or Schoology.
- Engaging & Interactive: Includes drag-and-drop tasks, visual prompts, and short-answer questions.
- Flexible Use: Perfect for independent practice, science centers, or early finishers.
- Critical Thinking: Helps students connect Earth science concepts to real-world examples.
Ideal For:
- Introducing the Rock Cycle: Simplifies teaching about rock types and geological processes.
- Independent Work: Allows students to complete tasks at their own pace.
- Science Centers: Digital, hands-on activities enhance engagement.
- Early Finishers: Keeps learners actively engaged with meaningful science tasks.
Standards Covered:
- Earth and Space Systems VA SOL 5.8 The student will investigate and understand that Earth constantly changes. Key ideas include a) Earth’s internal energy causes movement of material within the Earth; b) plate tectonics describe movement of the crust; c) the rock cycle models the transformation of rocks; d) processes such as weathering, erosion, and deposition change the surface of the Earth; and e) fossils and geologic patterns provide evidence of Earth’s change.
This Rock Cycle Activity Pack makes learning about Earth science engaging and easy. With interactive tasks, real-world examples, and standards-aligned content, it’s a must-have for any science lesson!
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