Materials for Rock Stations
Station
#1
*Rock bag # 1
5 hand lens
One paper bag
Station
#2
*Rock bag # 2
5 hand lens
Sorting map
Station
#3
*Rock bag # 3
5 rulers
Station
#4
*Rock bag # 4
4 balances
4 bags of gram
pieces
Station
#5
*Rock bag # 5
2 - two cup
measuring cups
( add water)
4 - 100 mL
graduated
cylinders
4 hand lens
Paper towels
Station
#6
*Rock bag # 6
- calcite – a
mineral found
in the SF gr.4
mineral kit
- 6 small cups
(“condiment”
size )
- Graduated
cylinders
- 2 hand lens
- container of
vinegar
Teacher Preparation ahead of time: Each station needs 5 or more rocks that fit the requirements for the assigned station.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Station 1 Observe a Rock - a variety of five or more rocks so that there is one “unique” rock for each member of the group
Station 2 Classify Rocks - 10 or more rocks that share some properties
Station 3 Measure a Rock’s Length – five or more rocks in different lengths at least 1 cm apart in length
Station 4 Weigh a Rock - five or more rocks of different masses – Weigh them ahead of time to make sure they are not too heavy to be
measured using the SF kit red balances and single gram cubes.
Station 5 - Measure a Rock’s Volume - five or more rocks with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the graduated cylinder being used
so they will fit inside it.
Station 6 - Bubbles and Fizz (Gr. 4 & 5)- two or three rocks need to have the mineral carbonate in them - ex. Limestone, marble