Uses of Rocks
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to gather evidence of how rocks, soil, and water help to make useful products.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that the natural world includes rocks, soil, and water that can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.
Science Background
Rocks and Minerals, Every Day Uses: University of Oregon (website) – Interactive gallery of commonplace items made from rocks and minerals.
Rocks and Minerals, Every Day Uses
University of Oregon, www.uoregon.edu
What is Geology? What does a Geologist Do? Geology.com (website) - Learn the fundamentals of geology and the work of a geologist.
What is Geology? What does a Geologist Do?
Geology.com
Resources for Teachers and Students of Geoscience in Texas: Bureau of Economic Geology (website) - Numerous resources related to geology and Earth science, including links to publications, a virtual rock kit, Earthview Texas, and more.
Signature Lesson
Uses of Earth Materials: FOSSWEB (website) - Students discuss and gather evidence that shows how rocks are used to make useful products.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Washing Rocks Outdoors: FOSS Pebbles, Sand, and Silt (PDF) - Students collect from their schoolyards and discover that rocks can be found everywhere. (Activity starts on page 1.)
Washing Rocks Outdoors
FOSSWEB, www.fossweb.com
How We Use Rocks: Utah Education Network (website) – Students gather evidence about useful rocks in their immediate vicinity.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Collecting Rocks: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - Students acquire knowledge of rocks, how they are formed, how they are used, and how to collect them.
Collecting Rocks
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us
Rock, Rocks & More Rocks: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - Introductory lesson in which students observe and sort rocks according to geologic properties.
Rock, Rocks & More Rocks
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us
Rocks and Minerals: Illinois State Museum Geology Online (website) - A series of hands-on investigations that illustrate how rocks and minerals are used, and provide examples of their importance in everyday life.
Rocks and Minerals
Illinois State Museum Geology Online, geologyonline.museum.state.il.us
Assessment Ideas
Have students create a four-page book, with each page beginning with, Rocks may be used ____ . Have students add a picture to enhance each page and verbally describe how the rocks are used.
Literature Connections
Let’s Go Rock Collecting. Gans, Roma (ISBN 0064451703)
Rocks: Hard, Sort, Smooth, and Rough. Rosinsky, Natalie (ISBN 1404800158)
Additional Resources
Junior GeoKids Rocks and Soil Unit: Saint Joseph’s University (PDF) - Observe, describe and compare rocks by size, shape, color and texture throughout this 12-week module.
Junior GeoKids Rocks and Soil Unit
Saint Joseph’s University, www.sju.edu
TEKS Navigation
Grade 1
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