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Minerals, Rocks, and Soil
Earth is made up various living and nonliving materials. Elements form minerals, and minerals form rocks. Different rock types - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic - transform at various points in the rock cycle. Through the processes of weathering and erosion, rocks change, break, and move. Minerals mix with organic material, forming the soil on which plants and animals rely. People use Earth resources by mining, drilling, and refining raw materials, and have become dependent on them for many purposes.
Overview Resources
- Unit Guide
- Unit Resource List
- NGSS Correlations Chart
- Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Unit Roadmaps
Unit Nonfiction Books

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil
low- Single-sided book
- Double-sided book
- Book Quiz
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Listen to Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Read Minerals, Rocks, and Soil See the Quiz for Minerals, Rocks, and SoilDigital
- Single-sided book
- Double-sided book
- Book Quiz
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Listen to Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Read Minerals, Rocks, and Soil See the Quiz for Minerals, Rocks, and SoilDigital
- Single-sided book
- Double-sided book
- Book Quiz
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Listen to Minerals, Rocks, and Soil Read Minerals, Rocks, and Soil See the Quiz for Minerals, Rocks, and SoilDigital
Lesson Resources
- Nonfiction Book Teacher's Guide
- Discussion Cards
- Blank Discussion Cards
Project-Based Learning Packs

Interactive Science Lessons

Fossils: Evidence of Earth’s Past
Process Activities
FOCUS Books

Quicksand!
low- Single-sided
- Double-sided
- Teaching Tips
- Digital


Fossils
mid- Single-sided
- Double-sided
- Teaching Tips
- Digital

Moon Rocks
mid- Single-sided
- Double-sided
- Teaching Tips
- Digital

Minerals in a Computer
high- Single-sided
- Double-sided
- Teaching Tips
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Listen to Minerals in a Computer Read Minerals in a Computer See the Quiz for Minerals in a ComputerDigital
Supporting Materials
Investigation Packs
Rocks
- Complete Investigation Pack
- Investigation Pack Teacher's Guide
- I.File Response Sheet
- I. Files Teaching Tips
I.Files






Mystery File

Chalk
- Digital
Science Fair Resources
Science Videos

Classification of Rocks
- Discussion Questions
- Video

Deep-Ocean Volcanoes
- Discussion Questions
- Video

Extracting Gold
- Discussion Questions
- Video

Greenland's Grand Canyon (no audio)
- Discussion Questions
- Video

How Limestone Forms
- Discussion Questions
- Video

How Water Affects Mountain Landscapes
- Discussion Questions
- Video

MLK Fountain (no audio)
- Discussion Questions
- Video

Mineral-Rich Salt
- Discussion Questions
- Video
Career Files

Mineralogist; Miner; Soil Scientist
- Digital
Quick Reads









Reading A-Z Books
Graphic Organizers
Science Diagrams

Describe and Compare Rocks
- Digital

Earth's Layers
- Digital

Periodic Table of the Elements
- Digital

The Rock Cycle
- Digital
Game Packs