The 3 Types of Rocks Page 1
Lesson overview: Students will sort rocks with their group into categories that they choose. They will then
learn about the 3 categories that geologists use to sort rocks-igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Lesson Duration: 90-120 minutes (I recommend breaking this lesson up into 2 or 3 days)
Lesson objective: Students will be able to list the three categories that rocks are classified into, how they
are made, their characteristics, and some examples.
Teacher Supplies:
• 3 Types of Rocks PowerPoint
• A “Sorting Rocks” page for each student
• A Crossword puzzle for each student (the one titled, “Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks.”)
• A “Coloring by Clue” page for each student
• Interactive notebook cut-outs (optional)
• Rocks that the students can sort (How many you need will depend on how many students bring rocks
from home. I like to have a plate full of different rocks for every 4 students that are not in a group. Try to
fill the plate with rocks that are different in color, size, and texture. I typically choose 10 different rocks.)
• The “Igneous Rocks,” “Sedimentary Rocks,” and “Metamorphic Rocks” posters (choose which ones you
wan to use)
• Videos and books that explain how each rock forms (This is optional. The PowerPoint thoroughly explains
each type of rock, but you might want to supplement with videos and books.)
Student Supplies:
• Rocks from home (optional)
• Pencil and coloring supplies
Preparation: Make sure to tell the students the day before (or sooner) that this is the day when they can
finally bring in their rock collections to school. They don’t have to bring rocks, it’s just if they want to. (Many
of them will want to.) This lesson will allow students to share their rock collections with classmates. Decide
ahead of time how you are going to group the students. Here’s how I do it: First, I gather everyone at the
carpet and ask the students who brought rock collections to raise their hands. Let’s say that 5 people
brought in rock collections. I will pick one of those 5 students and ask them to choose 2-3 other classmates
who do NOT have a rock collection to join their group and to go find a spot in the room. Then I pick another
one of the 5 students to pick 2-3 other classmates and to go find a spot in the room. I keep doing this until
all 5 people have picked people. Now that usually leaves a few students at the carpet. I usually make them
one group, or if there are more than 4 students left over, I’ll split them into two groups. What rocks are they
going to use? Mine of course! And that’s how I spin it so they don’t feel bad for not getting picked. They are
the special ones that get to use MY rocks. ☺ (Never make it so that just 1 or 2 students are left over. Try and
make it so that at least 4 people are left over or so that NONE are left over. Sometimes I get lots of students
that bring in rocks so I don’t have any left over.)
Teacher note:
Do NOT mention the words “igneous,” “sedimentary,” or “metamorphic” at the beginning of this lesson. It’s
more fun for them to try and come up with those words on their own later. ☺
Rocks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They can be smaller than your hand or as big as the grand
canyon. Geologists classify rocks into three groups: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Every rock on
earth can be sorted into one of those categories; it all just depends on how it was made. To classify rocks,
we look at their characteristics. It also helps to know how each of these rocks are made.
© Lotts of Learning
The 3 Types of Rocks Page 2
The difference between magma and lava is that magma is melted rock under the earth’s crust and lava is
melted rock above the earth’s crust.
Igneous rocks are often called volcanic rocks. This is because they are formed from melted rock (lava or
magma) that has cooled and hardened.
There are two types of igneous rocks: intrusive and extrusive. Intrusive igneous rocks are formed when
magma cools underneath the earth’s crust. Extrusive rocks are formed when lava cools above the earth’s
crust. When magma cools slowly, usually thousands of feet under the ground, crystals form. The slower it
takes to cool, the bigger the crystals become. Intrusive igneous rocks usually have crystals. Granite and
Gabbro are examples of this. Extrusive igneous rocks are the ones that are glass-like or have air pockets and
that’s because they cooled quickly. The air pockets are from gas bubbles that were present in the lava when
it cooled. Pumice and scoria are very good examples of extrusive igneous rocks with air pockets. Obsidian is
an example of lava that cooled quickly (no gas bubbles), making it look glass-like. Many Native Americans
used obsidian to make arrowheads for their spears. Basalt is also an extrusive rock that has small air
pockets. Basalt is the most common igneous rock. Most of the ocean floor is basalt.
There is a difference between weathering and erosion. Weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of
rocks, minerals, or soil on Earth’s surface. Agents of weathering include plants, animals, chemicals, rain,
wind, and frost wedging (when water gets into the cracks of rocks and then freezes. As it freezes, it expands
and breaks apart the rock, creating even bigger cracks, or joints. Then the ice melts. More water will get
into these joints, freeze, expand, melt and it keeps happening until the rock eventually breaks apart into
pieces) Erosion is the movement of these pieces. Erosion happens when sediments are picked up and
carried from one place to another. This can happen from moving water, wind, or gravity.
Sediments are small pieces of weathered rocks and minerals that sink to the bottom of water. They are
often carried by rivers and taken to the ocean. Once these sediments meet up with the ocean, they are no
longer being carried by the current and sink to the bottom of the ocean floor.
© Lotts of Learning 2017
The 3 Types of Rocks Page 3
Sedimentary rocks are formed when layers of sediments, mud, sand, and sometimes the remains of living
things get compacted (squished) together until they solidify into solid rock (cementation). These layers of
sediments usually compact under water (lake, river, swamp, the sea, etc.), especially at the bottom of the
ocean. Limestone, a sedimentary rock, is often made up of skeletal pieces of marine organisms. I like to tell
my students, “So when you’re holding limestone, you are holding the skeletons of dead sea animals!” That
gets some fun reactions. Sedimentary rocks are where fossils of dead plants and animals can be found. Coal
is a sedimentary rock that gets formed in swampy areas (neither totally land nor totally water.) The plants in
or near the water die and get trapped on the bottom of the swampy water, collecting layer after layer that
eventually becomes peat. The peat gets compressed for millions of years until it turns into coal. (And that’s
why coal burns so well.) Sedimentary rocks are usually found along cliffs. That is because these cliffs used to
be submersed under water (a lake or the ocean).
Layers found in sedimentary rocks are usually parallel with the ground. If they are not, then that means
there was some sort of uplifting that occurred in the earth.
Metamorphic rocks are changed rocks. They used to be igneous or sedimentary, but then heat from magma
and pressure from layers above it, changed them into a whole new rock.
This is the lesson where students finally get to bring in their rock collections. They will get to share them
with classmates and with you AND it’s hands-on. Some of them have really big collections so I tell them that
it has to fit into one small container that can fit under their desk. They also have to be able to carry it on
their own. This makes it so students aren’t bringing in bags and bags of rocks. They will ask about minerals. I
tell them that they can bring minerals, but that the activity is meant for rocks. So I encourage them to bring
just rocks. The rules are up to you. ☺
© Lotts of Learning 2017
The 3 Types of Rocks Page 4
Lesson instructions:
1. Tell the students that they can get out their rocks but they need to keep them under their
desks until you say it’s time to get them out again.
2. Explain to the students that they are going to be doing a sorting activity with the rocks
that they brought. Tell them that they are going to be put into groups of 3-4. With their
group, they are going to sort the rocks into different categories of their choice. (For
example, they might sort their rocks by color. Or by size. Or by texture. They get to choose.)
Tell them that once their group has sorted their rocks, everyone in the group needs to raise
their hand. Then you will come by and try to guess how they sorted their rocks. (They LOVE
this!) Once you have guessed or given up (and they just tell you the answer), they will mix
up the rocks and find a new way to sort them.
3. Answer any questions they might have before starting.
4. Divide them into groups throughout the room. Pass out your own rocks to any groups that
need them.
5. Tell them to start sorting the rocks. When a group raises their hands, quickly go over to
them and try to guess how they sorted them. If your students are anything like the ones
that I’ve had, then you will get all sorts of fun ways they have sorted them. I’ve had students
sort them by color and size (easiest to guess) and I’ve had them sort them by which ones are
their favorite (not so easy to guess). Have fun trying to guess the different ways. Don’t
spend too long with each group because then you’ll turn around and then you’ll see tons of
hands that you’ll need to get to quickly.
6. When each group has had a chance to sort their rocks at least 2 times, tell them that they
have 1 more turn for you to guess how they sorted them. After you go to a group to guess,
have them clean up all their rocks and go back to their desk. Keep doing this until all
students have cleaned up all their rocks and are back at their seats.
7. Start the PowerPoint. When you get to the page that has them share the different ways
they sorted their rocks, feel free to write their answers on the board.
8. The PowerPoint will guide you as you explain to them that geologist sort rocks too. But
when they sort them, they can sort them into 3 main categories. If geologist sorted rocks by
their color, then they would have way more than 3 groups because there are way more than
3 colors out there. If they sorted them by size, then they would also have tons of groups
because there are so many different sizes out there. Try and get them to guess how
geologist sort rocks. Remind them that when they sort them, there are only 3 groups, that’s
it. The PowerPoint gives them a hint if they need it. Then ask them what the names of the
three groups are. Eventually, you should get students to answer all three categories:
igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Explain to them that depending on how a rock is
made will depend on which one of those three categories it will belong.
© Lotts of Learning 2017
The 3 Types of Rocks Page 5
9. Pass out the “Sorting rocks” page to each student. The PowerPoint has a slide that tells them
to write their name and the different ways their group sorted rocks.
10. Teach them the three different kinds of rocks. You can use the PowerPoint, the vocabulary
posters that are included with this lesson, videos on Youtube, books about the three different
types of rocks, the answer key provided in this lesson plan, or any other resources you can think
of. Have the students follow along and take notes. Do not rush through this part. It is important
that they understand how each type of rock is formed. (In my opinion, it should take at least 45
minutes to teach the three different types of rocks.)
11. After teaching all three types of rocks, have the students get out their rock collections again
and see if they can find any examples of the rocks that you just taught them about in their own
collections. (If you are splitting this lesson into two or three days then have the students leave
their rocks at school until it’s time to get them out again.)
12. Have the students fill out the crossword puzzle and the “Color by Clue” activity. They can be
sent home as homework, or they can be done in class. They can do it individually or in pairs. It’s
up to you. ☺
If you use interactive notebooks with your students, I have included some pages that you can
print off for the students. (Choose which set you would rather use: the ones with photographs,
or the ones with clip art.) Here is an example of the finished product:
These go
inside the
pockets
Even if you don’t use interactive notebooks, you could still have the students assemble the
pieces onto cardstock paper. Then, when they’re all done, you could hang them up on the wall
or tuck them away for safe-keeping and get them out again when they need to review.
I have also included a growth mindset worksheet the students can fill out. (It corresponds with
some of the slides in the PowerPoint.) This would make a great mini lesson that can be done at
a different time and not necessarily at the end of this lesson. These would also make a great
display on the wall. ☺
© Lotts of Learning 2017
The 3 Types of Rocks Page 6
How this lesson fits the 5E Model:
ENGAGE: Students engage in a sorting activity where they
sort rocks into various categories of their choice.
EXPLORE: A discussion follows where the teacher asks if
they know what categories geologists use to sort rocks.
Students work together to come up with the following
terms: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
EXPLAIN: The teacher explains that all rocks can be sorted
into three main categories. The students learn about the
three main types of rocks, how they are formed, what
characteristics they have, and some examples. (Students
take notes while learning about the three main kinds of
rocks.)
ELABORATE: Students pull out their rock collections again
and see if they can find rocks that they just learned about.
EVALUATE: Students complete a crossword puzzle and a
coloring page.
© Lotts of Learning 2017
Sorting Rocks
Name:________
Today your group sorted many different rocks. Record below the
different ways you sorted them. Our group sorted our rocks by:
Geologists sort rocks too!
They sort them by how they were made. There are 3 types of rocks.
Type of
Rock
How it was
Characteristics Examples
made
© Lotts of Learning 2017
Name:________
Sorting Rocks
Today your group sorted many different rocks. Record below the
different ways you sorted them. Our group sorted our rocks by:
Geologists sort rocks too!
They sort them by how they were made. There are 3 types of rocks.
Type of
Rock
How it was
made
________ or _______ that
has cooled
Characteristics Examples
Igneous rocks are _____ layered
Intrusive: _______
diorite, ________
Intrusive: magma that has
cooled _______ the earth
Extrusive: lava that has
cooled _______the earth
Intrusive:
_______ crystals
Extrusive:
__________
_____ pockets
___________ get
deposited at the bottom of
the ocean and get
__________ together.
After many years, the
layers become
____________ together.
___________
Grains
___________ that have been
cemented together
__________
They typically ___________
have crystals
Limestone
__________
______ and __________.
_________
It used to be another rock
that ___________due to
_______ and ________.
Crystals that are aligned.
(In other words, it has crystals
______ layers.)
_________ (used to
be limestone)
_________ (used to
be shale)
___________ (used
to be sandstone)
_________ (used to
be granite)
Extrusive:
_______, obsidian,
________, scoria
Conglomerate
__________
Coal
© Lotts of Learning 2017
Sorting Rocks ANSWER KEY
Today your group sorted many different rocks. Record below the
different ways you sorted them. Our group sorted our rocks by:
Color
Size
Shape
Texture
(Answers will vary)
Geologists sort rocks too!
They sort them by how they were made. There are 3 types of rocks.
Type of
Rock
How it was
made
Characteristics Examples
Magma or lava that has
cooled
Igneous rocks are NOT
layered
Intrusive: granite
diorite, gabbro
Intrusive: magma that has
cooled inside the earth
Extrusive: lava that has
cooled outside the earth
Intrusive:
Large crystals
Extrusive:
glass-like
Air pockets
Extrusive:
basalt, obsidian
pumice, scoria
Sediments get deposited
at the bottom of the
ocean and get compacted
together. After many
years, the layers become
cemented together.
Layers
Grains
Particles that have been
cemented together
Fossils
They typically DO NOT
have crystals
Limestone
Sandstone
Conglomerate
Shale
Coal
Heat and pressure.
Hard
Crystals that are aligned.
In other words, it has
crystals AND layers.
Marble (used to
be limestone)
Slate (Used to be
shale)
Quartzite (used to
be sandstone)
Gneiss (used to be
granite)
It used to be another rock
that changed due to heat
and pressure.
© Lotts of Learning 2017
Name: ___________
Vocabulary Cross-Word Puzzle
Igneous, Sedimentary,
and Metamorphic Rocks
© Lotts of Learning 2017
DOWN
ACROSS
2. A rock that forms when lava or magma cools.
4. Intrusive igneous rocks often have large
_________.
5. An extrusive igneous rock that is glass-like and
often black.
7. A rock that used to be another rock but it
changed.
8. Heat and __________ are what create
metamorphic rocks.
12. Sedimentary rocks often have __________
and no crystals.
14. Extrusive igneous rocks often have ______
pockets.
1. A common, intrusive, igneous rock
3. An igneous rock that can float in water
6. Sedimentary rocks form once the
sediments have been ____________
together.
9. Which type of rock forms when
sediments are pressed together under
water for thousands of years?
10. Melted rock below the earth’s crust.
11. Melted rock above the earth’s crust.
13. As sediments continually get deposited
at the bottom of the ocean, they get
____________ (or squished) together.
Name: ___________
Vocabulary Cross-Word Puzzle
Igneous, Sedimentary,
and Metamorphic Rocks
© Lotts of Learning 2017
DOWN
ACROSS
2. A rock that forms when lava or magma cools.
4. Intrusive igneous rocks often have large
_________.
5. An extrusive igneous rock that is glass-like and
often black.
7. A rock that used to be another rock but it
changed.
8. Heat and __________ are what create
metamorphic rocks.
12. Sedimentary rocks often have __________
and no crystals.
14. Extrusive igneous rocks often have ______
pockets.
1. A common, intrusive, igneous rock
3. An igneous rock that can float in water
6. Sedimentary rocks form once the
sediments have been ____________
together.
9. Which type of rock forms when
sediments are pressed together under
water for thousands of years?
10. Melted rock below the earth’s crust.
11. Melted rock above the earth’s crust.
13. As sediments continually get deposited
at the bottom of the ocean, they get
____________ (or squished) together.
Name: ___________
Color by Clue
Directions: Read each clue that is labeled on the picture. Decide whether the clue is
referring to an igneous rock, a sedimentary rock, or a metamorphic rock. Color the
labeled part with the correct color. When coloring the legs, each leg should match.
igneous= red
sedimentary= orange
metamorphic= yellow
crystals AND layers
lava or
magma that
has cooled
sediments
cemented
together
gneiss
sandstone
granite
hard
glass- like
air
pockets
grains
layers
limestone
but no
crystals
marble
pumice
used to be
another rock
crystals
but no
layers
heat and
pressure
shale
quartzite
obsidian
fossils
© Lotts of Learning
Name: ___________
ANSWER
Color by Clue
KEY
Directions: Read each clue that is labeled on the picture. Decide whether the clue is
referring to an igneous rock, a sedimentary rock, or a metamorphic rock. Color the
labeled part with the correct color. When coloring the legs, each leg should match.
igneous= red
sedimentary= orange
metamorphic= yellow
crystals AND layers
lava or
magma that
has cooled
sediments
cemented
together
gneiss
sandstone
granite
hard
glass- like
air
pockets
grains
layers
limestone
but no
crystals
marble
pumice
used to be
another rock
crystals
but no
layers
heat and
pressure
shale
quartzite
obsidian
fossils
© Lotts of Learning
Rocks that form when lava or
magma cools and then
hardens
Rock that forms when sediments
press together for many years and
then cement to
each other
© Lotts of Learning 2017
Rocks that used to be igneous or
sedimentary. Heat and pressure
changed them into
a new rock.
The 3 Types of Rocks
All rocks can be sorted
into 3 categories:
igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic. It all
depends on how the
rock was formed.
© Lotts of Learning 2017
granite
limestone
obsidian
conglomerate
sandstone
marble
pumice
slate
gabbro
shale
basalt
quartzite
scoria
gneiss
diorite
coal
granite
limestone
obsidian
conglomerate
sandstone
marble
pumice
slate
gabbro
shale
basalt
quartzite
scoria
gneiss
diorite
coal
Particles
cemented
together
NO
LAYERS
Air
pockets
Looks like
glass
Layers
without
crystals
Layers
AND
crystals
The 3 Types of Rocks
Interactive Notebook Page
Name: ___________
Embracing heat and pressure wit
ha
GROWTH MINDSET
Sedimentary rocks aren’t known for being the strongest rock. They can be broken and
scratched easily. However, when they undergo heat and pressure, they become a whole
new rock. What once was a dull rock, grows beautiful crystals. What once was a fragile
rock becomes stronger. Shale, for example, is a plain sedimentary rock that breaks easily.
But, after embracing heat and pressure, it becomes slate, a very durable metamorphic
rock. In a way, we are all like sedimentary rocks striving to become metamorphic rocks. To
become a metamorphic rock, we can’t run from heat and pressure, we need to embrace it.
Dear Brain-of-Mine,
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been getting a
lot of heat and pressure from __________________.
It has been difficult because:
But don’t worry! I am choosing to
embrace it because I know it will
make us STRONGER, just like a
metamorphic rock. We can do it!
Sincerely,
© Lotts of
Learning
Name: ___________
Embracing heat and pressure wit
ha
GROWTH MINDSET
Sedimentary rocks aren’t known for being the strongest rock. They can be broken and
scratched easily. However, when they undergo heat and pressure, they become a whole
new rock. What once was a dull rock, grows beautiful crystals. What once was a fragile
rock becomes stronger. Shale, for example, is a plain sedimentary rock that breaks easily.
But, after embracing heat and pressure, it becomes slate, a very durable metamorphic
rock. In a way, we are all like sedimentary rocks striving to become metamorphic rocks. To
become a metamorphic rock, we can’t run from heat and pressure, we need to embrace it.
Dear Brain-of-Mine,
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been getting a
lot of heat and pressure from __________________.
It has been difficult because:
But don’t worry! I am choosing to
embrace it because I know it will
make us STRONGER, just like a
metamorphic rock. We can do it!
Sincerely,
© Lotts of
Learning
Name: ___________
Embracing heat and pressure wit
ha
GROWTH MINDSET
Sedimentary rocks aren’t known for being the strongest rock. They can be broken and
scratched easily. However, when they undergo heat and pressure, they become a whole
new rock. What once was a dull rock, grows beautiful crystals. What once was a fragile
rock becomes stronger. Shale, for example, is a plain sedimentary rock that breaks easily.
But, after embracing heat and pressure, it becomes slate, a very durable metamorphic
rock. In a way, we are all like sedimentary rocks striving to become metamorphic rocks. To
become a metamorphic rock, we can’t run from heat and pressure, we need to embrace it.
Dear Brain-of-Mine,
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been getting a
lot of heat and pressure from __________________.
It has been difficult because:
But don’t worry! I am choosing to
embrace it because I know it will
make us STRONGER, just like a
metamorphic rock. We can do it!
Sincerely,
© Lotts of
Learning 2017
Name: ___________
sample
Embracing heat and pressure wit
ha
GROWTH MINDSET
Sedimentary rocks aren’t known for being the strongest rock. They can be broken and
scratched easily. However, when they undergo heat and pressure, they become a whole
new rock. What once was a dull rock, grows beautiful crystals. What once was a fragile
rock becomes stronger. Shale, for example, is a plain sedimentary rock that breaks easily.
But, after embracing heat and pressure, it becomes slate, a very durable metamorphic
rock. In a way, we are all like sedimentary rocks striving to become metamorphic rocks. To
become a metamorphic rock, we can’t run from heat and pressure, we need to embrace it.
Dear Brain-of-Mine,
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been getting a
piano lessons
lot of heat and pressure from __________________.
It has been difficult because:
It takes up a lot of my time and it doesn’t come to
me easily. Plus, mom is always reminding me how
important it is that I learn and that I can’t quit.
But don’t worry! I am choosing to
embrace it because I know it will
make us STRONGER, just like a
metamorphic rock. We can do it!
Sincerely,
Leah
© Lotts of
Learning
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