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Create a Solid Science Unit with Rocks and Minerals Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Rocks and Minerals Reading Passages

Do you use rocks and minerals reading comprehension worksheets? Rocks and minerals science units are always a huge hit in the classroom. Students love to interact with the materials and learn about the rock cycle. 

And although there are some remarkable rocks and minerals science units with plenty of fun hands-on activities, they are often missing a key component. Solid content. Experiments alone don’t give students the foundational understanding and the “why” behind the activities. They need to develop a deep understanding to understand the actual content. 

My approach to a dependable science unit includes rocks and minerals reading comprehension worksheets that pair with engaging lessons for a fuller understanding. Here’s how they can help enhance your science instruction…

Strengthen Your Current Curriculum

You may have a Science curriculum that you are required to teach. That’s great! But every science unit I’ve encountered has always has room for improvement. So to strengthen your current curriculum, you need to identify its weaknesses. 

The best way to do this is to teach the curriculum to fidelity the first time around. Then use an assessment or project to gauge students’ understanding (I use this assessment). 

Now that you have some data, you can address the common misconceptions and strengthen those areas. Then, next year, make the needed adjustments and assess again (preferably with the same assessment or project). Collect the data again, compare the previous years, and then make changes. 

Every year is different, and classes vary so keep this in mind as you review the data. Then, after a few years, you will have a fuller view of what needs to be supplemented into your curriculum. 

As an instructional coach and curriculum designer, I know that often the research and how the information is relayed to students is lacking. So if you don’t want to wait a few years to beef up your curriculum, start by adding rocks and minerals reading comprehension passages.

Enhance Your ELA & Science Blocks Simultaneously

Do you have a dedicated science block? It’s hard to squeeze in math, reading, writing, and interventions, let alone set up for a science experiment at the end of the day! 

My solution? Integrate science into your ELA block with rocks and minerals reading comprehension passages. Students can practice reading skills like main idea and detail, sequencing, and summarizing using passages about rocks and minerals. 

You can also integrate the topic into writing. For example, I use this Letter to a Geologist activity to teach students how to write a friendly letter (or email). Work on sentence structure, adjectives, and transition words as students write and apply their knowledge of rocks and minerals. 

Read more about this topic here: 3 Rocks and Minerals Activities to Integrate into your ELA Block.

Introduce Interactive Elements

Rocks and minerals worksheets are a great way to deepen students understanding but so are those experiential learning opportunities. Some of my favorite low prep interactive activities include:

  • Rock Observation Activity
  • Mohs Hardness Scale Worksheet
  • Write a Letter to a Geologist Graphic Organizer and Template
  • Igneous, Sedimentary, & Metamorphic Cut and Paste Activity

Interactive can also mean a virtual classroom activity. If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with Google Classroom. My science resources include interactive activities you can assign in Google Classroom. 

Well, are Y’all ready to supplement your science unit? My printable ready-to-go rocks and minerals activities are perfect for upper elementary students (3rd-5th grade) and will help you feel confident in your science instruction. So check out my best-selling resource and be ready to implement this easy-to-use activity.  

Need all the rocks and minerals activities you can get? Grab my Rocks and Minerals Bundle here! 
It includes: 

  • Reading passages
  • Experiments
  • Google Slides activity
  • Flip Book
  • Task Cards & More!

If you love Google Classroom too, you’ll love this 10-minute digital lesson template! Download it ASAP, and I’ll send you a new template once a month just because I like you!

Hey there!

I’M MELISSA!

I design curriculum and am a self proclaimed tech nerd! I love designing resources to make teachers’ lives easier. In addition, I blog all things education. Let’s get to know each other and connect!

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