Rocks are so fascinating to study!
Petrologists — scientists who study rocks and the conditions under which they form — break down every variety of rock into three main groups: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. (See the post we published this past Tuesday for National “Collect Rocks” Day, for more information about these three different types of rock.)
The tactile, 3-D experience of putting hands on the real thing is always the ideal way to learn. We homeschool mamas understand this, which is why our hearts go pitter-patter at things like 100-specimen rock kits. But sometimes we have to draw the line … and at your house, that might fall right about where you’d be piling up samples of most North American rocks.
While weight and texture can’t be explored with a photo, learning to visually identify characteristics of different types of rock is a great starting point for every would-be geologist. So, to that end, we’ve created a selection of printable cards representing common examples of the three different types of rocks.
Creating an engaging study/sort activity to use (at least, until you are able to collect your own physical rock collection) couldn’t be easier:
- download the PDF file
- print the sorting mat, parent answer key, and rock photos on card stock
- cut apart the 20 cards
- you may want to take a minute to write the name of the type of rock on the back of each card (see page 4 of the download for a key)
The sorting mat has three columns, one for each type of rock, labeled Sedimentary, Igneous, or Metamorphic. With your child, walk through the three different types of rock and how to identify them, then let them sort the photo cards into the correct column.
When finished, go through them together, checking that the rock specimens are sorted correctly and talking about how each one is formed.
If your child is young, consider printing two sets of the photo cards (skip the step of adding names to the back) and use them to play a petrology-based version of Go Fish. As you play, you can introduce your child to rocks by talking about the identifying characteristics of each matched set.
Happy sorting!
Download your copy today:
Rock Identification Sorting Game
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