This WebQuest introduces 4th grade students to rocks and minerals through interactive online activities and games. Students work with a partner to complete a worksheet exploring the differences between rocks and minerals, their physical properties, how they are formed through the rock cycle, and how they are used. Students then use what they've learned to help identify 10 rocks found by their teacher. The WebQuest aims to teach students about rock and mineral identification while having fun through games and experiments.

1. 4th Grade Really Rocks!
A WebQuest about rocks & minerals
Blanchard Memorial School

2. Essential Questions
• How are the different rocks and
minerals that make up the Earth
formed?
• What physical properties are used to
identify rocks and minerals?
• How are rocks used and why are they
important to people?

3. MA DESE Standards
Strand: Earth and Science (preK—8)
Topic: Rocks and Their Properties
1. Give a simple explanation of what a mineral is and some
examples, e.g., quartz, mica.
2. Identify the physical properties of minerals
(hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak), and
explain how minerals can be tested for these different
physical properties.
3. 3. Identify the three categories of rocks
(metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary) based on how
they are formed, and explain the natural and physical
processes that create these rocks.

4. Student Instructions
• Click or press the space bar on your
computer to advance the slides.
• Read each slide carefully for instructions.
• Click to follow links to Internet resources.
• Complete the worksheet and the evaluation.

5. Help Solve a Rock Mystery
Rocks are the most common material
on Earth, so it’s not a surprise that
your teacher found some cool rocks in
the school parking lot this morning.
She’s a typical teacher, so she’s not
happy simply keeping the rocks on her
desk. She wants to know exactly what
type of rocks she has! Can you help?

6. Introduction:
You Are a Rock Detective!
Your job will be to learn everything you
can about rocks and minerals so that you
can help your teacher identify her rocks.

7. Task:
Search for Clues
• You will work with a partner to collect clues
about rocks and minerals from resources on
the Internet.
• You will complete a worksheet to help you
record your clues.
• You and your partner will use what you
learned to identify 10 rocks.

8. Process:
Detective Work
1. Working with a partner, follow the links on the
next slides to find clues about rocks and minerals.
2. Read the information on each website carefully.
3. Use your worksheet to guide your online
exploration. Record the answers as you and your
partner find them.
4. Use what you learn to identify 10 rocks found by
your teacher.

9. Resources:
Search for Clues
Click here . From the website, click
to learn the difference between minerals and rocks.
Record your answer on the worksheet.
Click here to learn about mineral properties.
Click here and choose from the list of links for more
information about identifying minerals.
Click the house to find minerals where you live. Use your
worksheet to list 5 minerals, and where you might find
them.

10. Search for Clues
• Go to the Rock Cycle Diagram. Move your
mouse to view different parts of the cycle, and
click the images to animate the cycle. Use the
clues to answer these questions
• Below the diagram, click
• Answer the questions about the parts of the
rock cycle.

11. Search for Clues
You are almost an expert geologist now!
Click here to discover how rocks are formed.
Click for more clues that will help
you answer the last question on your worksheet
and give you the information you need to
succeed in identifying your teacher’s rocks.

12. Evaluation:
Name That Rock!
Click here to read clues (with your partner) and
show what you know by identifying the rocks
your teacher found today. How many points did
you earn?
Take a Quiz (on your own) to show what you
know.

13. Conclusion
• Great detective work! You have learned all
about rocks and minerals, and proven your
geology skills by helping your teacher identify
the rocks she found.
• Now you can play some games especially for
geologists!

14. Games &
Experiments
– Who Am I? Rock Game
– Does it Float? and other virtual experiments
– Find Earth Materials
– Rocks & Minerals Trivia Game
– Rocks & Minerals Word Search

15. Resources
• http://www.mineralogy4kids.org/
• http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/identification.html
• http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/rockkey/index.
html
• http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-games/rocks-
game.php
• http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/types.ht
ml
• http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/diagram
.html