Types of Rocks and Rock Cycle STEM Activities and Project Ideas for Elementary and Middle School Students

 Are you an elementary or middle school science teacher looking for some interesting and challenging rock cycle activities and projects?

It would be even better if they were STEM/STEAM (including art) projects. As I'm sure you know, STEM projects are hands-on learning activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math concepts. These projects aim to encourage students to use critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration skills to design, create, and test solutions to real-world problems. STEM projects can be designed to suit different age groups and skill levels, and can be adapted to different subject areas and learning goals. These projects often involve designing and building prototypes, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings. The goal of STEM projects is to prepare students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in STEM fields and contribute to solving complex global challenges.

Here are seven great ideas to get your students started:

1. Rock Cycle Models: 

Students can create physical models or diagrams to illustrate the various processes and stages of the rock cycle. This project can involve a range of materials, such as clay, paper mache, or found materials.

2. Igneous Rock Identification: 

Students can research and identify different types of igneous rocks and create a display showcasing their findings. They can also examine the properties and characteristics of each type of rock, such as color, texture, and composition.

3. Sedimentary Rock Formation: 

Students can simulate the formation of sedimentary rocks using a variety of materials such as sand, gravel, and clay. They can also test the properties of the rocks they create, such as hardness and permeability.

4. Metamorphic Rock Experiment: 

Students can create their own metamorphic rocks by subjecting different types of rocks to heat and pressure. They can observe and record the changes that occur and compare the properties of the original rocks to the metamorphic rocks they create.

5. Rock Cycle Videos: 

Students can create videos explaining the rock cycle and its different stages. They can use animations, illustrations, or live-action footage to illustrate their explanations.

6. Rock Cycle Board Games: 

Students can create board games that teach players about the rock cycle. The game can include trivia questions, challenges, and activities related to the different stages of the rock cycle.

7. Virtual Field Trip: 

Students can research different rock formations and take a virtual field trip to see them in person. They can use online resources such as Google Earth, virtual tours, or interactive maps to explore different geological formations and learn about their characteristics and history.

8. Rock Cycle Painting: 

Students can create a painting that illustrates the rock cycle, starting with the formation of igneous rocks and ending with the formation of sedimentary rocks. This activity can incorporate art techniques such as blending colors to show the changes in the rock's appearance.

9. Virtual Rock Cycle Lab: 

Students can use online simulation software to conduct virtual experiments on the rock cycle. This activity can help students visualize the processes that occur during the rock cycle and make predictions based on the data they collect.

10. Rock Cycle Sculpture: 

Students can create a three-dimensional sculpture that shows the different stages of the rock cycle. This activity can incorporate engineering skills as students design and construct the sculpture using a range of materials.

11. Rock Cycle Storytelling: 

Students can create a story or comic that tells the story of a rock's journey through the rock cycle. This activity can incorporate writing and illustration skills, as well as scientific knowledge of the rock cycle.

12. Rock Cycle Sorting Game: 

Students can play a game where they sort different types of rocks into categories based on their properties and characteristics. This activity can help students develop their observation and classification skills.

13. Rock Cycle Music Video: 

Students can create a music video that explains the rock cycle and its different stages. This activity can incorporate songwriting, music production, and video editing skills, as well as scientific knowledge of the rock cycle.

14. Rock Cycle Geocaching: 

Students can create a geocaching activity where they hide rocks at different locations and provide clues that lead to the next location. This activity can incorporate GPS technology, as well as scientific knowledge of the rock cycle.

These projects can help students understand the various processes and stages of the rock cycle and develop their skills in STEM subjects subjects such as geology, chemistry, and engineering.

15. Rock Tumbler:

Students can design and build a rock tumbler that can simulate the natural process of erosion that occurs during the rock cycle. The tumbler may use mechanical forces to grind and polish rocks, creating smooth, polished stones that can represent different stages in the rock cycle.

You may also be interested in these printable types of rocks and rock cycle activities in my Promoting Success store on TPT:

Free Rock Cycle Vocabulary Quiz

Rocks and Minerals Bundle of Activities

You may also like these educational science products from my Amazon Associate store:

STEM Toy Rock Science Kit Geology Mineral Specimen For Kid Geologists

National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit

Please CLICK HERE to see popular Amazon science resources for teachers and kids.

Please feel free to message me with any requests or comments.

Thank you so much!

❤️ Shelly Anton

Promoting Success for You and Your Students!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Promoting-Success

 

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

St. Patrick's Day Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids

Teachers, are you looking for some fun St. Patrick's Day crafts, decorations, games, and activities for your elementary classroom or for your kids at home? Here are several free ideas to get you started:

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CRAFTS:

Shamrock Sun Catcher: 

Cut out a shamrock shape from a piece of clear contact paper. Then, fill the inside of the shamrock with different colors of tissue paper. When you're done, stick another piece of contact paper on top to seal it.

Pot of Gold Craft: 

Paint a paper plate black and then glue a smaller paper cup upside down in the center. Then, paint the cup gold and add a rainbow made from construction paper strips.

Rainbow Windsock: 

Cut a paper cup in half and paint it with rainbow colors. Then, attach streamers made from ribbon or crepe paper to the bottom. Hang it up outside to catch the wind.

St. Patrick's Day Wreath: 

Cut out shamrock shapes from green construction paper and glue them onto a foam wreath form. Add a bow made from ribbon and hang it on your door.

Shamrock Crown: Cut out a strip of green construction paper and measure it around your child's head. Then, cut out several shamrock shapes and glue them onto the strip. Attach the ends of the strip together to create a crown.

Lucky Charm Necklace: 

Cut out shamrock shapes from colorful felt and attach them to a ribbon or piece of elastic. Have your child add beads or other charms to create a personalized lucky charm necklace.

St. Patrick's Day Mason Jar: 

Paint a Mason jar with green paint and add a glitter shamrock to the front. Fill the jar with gold-wrapped candy or other St. Patrick's Day treats.

Craft Station:

Set up a craft station with supplies for making St. Patrick's Day-themed crafts, such as shamrock wreaths, paper plate leprechauns, or rainbow mobiles.

You may also like this gratitude craft activity from my TPT Promoting Success store:

St. Patrick's Day I Am Lucky Craft Activity

or Bulletin Board Design

ST. PATRICK'S DAY GAMES AND ACTIVITIES:

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt:
Hide shamrocks (paper or plastic) around the classroom or school and have students search for them. The student who finds the most shamrocks wins a prize.

Leprechaun Trap Building: Have students work in pairs or small groups to design and build a leprechaun trap. Encourage them to use materials they find around the classroom or school. After building, have students present their traps and explain how they work.

Irish Folk Tales: Read Irish folk tales to your students and encourage them to retell the stories in their own words. Discuss the themes and messages of each story.

St. Patrick's Day Bingo: Create a bingo card with St. Patrick's Day-themed words or images (e.g. shamrock, leprechaun, pot of gold, etc.). Call out the words or show the images and have students mark off the corresponding square on their bingo card.

Green Science Experiments: Conduct green-themed science experiments with your students. For example, you could make green slime or experiment with color mixing to create different shades of green.

Irish Dancing: Teach your students some traditional Irish dance steps and have them perform for the class.

St. Patrick's Day Trivia: Test your students' knowledge of St. Patrick's Day with a trivia game. Create questions about Irish culture, St. Patrick's Day traditions, or the history of the holiday.

Green Food Tasting: Bring in green foods (e.g. green apples, celery, grapes, etc.) and have students try them. Encourage them to describe the taste and texture of each food.

Green Clothing Contest: Have students dress in green for the day and hold a contest for the most creative or festive outfit.

You may wish to use these free task cards to have a St. Patrick's Day scavenger hunt or play a game of SCOOT:

Free St. Patrick's Day Counting Money Task Cards

for Fun Games and Activities 

Free St. Patrick's Day Multiplication and Division Facts Task Cards

for Math Center Games and Activities

Free St. Patrick's Day Addition and Subtraction Facts 

for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students

SPECIAL NOTE:

Be sure to show respect for the Irish culture when engaging in any St. Patrick's Day activities.

Learn about the culture: Educate yourself about the history, language, and customs of Ireland. Read books, watch documentaries, or take courses to gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

Use appropriate language: Use proper terminology when referring to Irish people, places, and things. Avoid using stereotypes, slurs, or offensive language.

Celebrate the culture: Celebrate Irish holidays and festivals, such as St. Patrick's Day or the Galway Oyster Festival, in a respectful manner. Participate in events and activities that showcase the culture.

Respect sacred sites: Show respect for Ireland's sacred sites, such as burial mounds, cairns, and megaliths. Do not remove or damage any artifacts, and do not disturb any areas marked as sacred.

Listen to Irish music: Listen to traditional Irish music and appreciate its unique sound and history. Avoid using Irish music for commercial purposes or misusing it in any way.

Respect Irish cuisine: Appreciate the richness and diversity of Irish cuisine, which includes dishes such as soda bread, Irish stew, and colcannon. Do not appropriate Irish cuisine or misrepresent it in any way.

Avoid cultural appropriation: Avoid appropriating Irish culture, such as wearing inappropriate costumes or accessories that mock or stereotype the culture.

Show genuine interest: Show genuine interest in Irish culture and traditions, and be open to learning from Irish people about their customs and beliefs.

By showing respect for Irish culture, we can build bridges of understanding and appreciation between different cultures and communities.

You may also wish to have your students use these free writing papers to research and learn more about Irish culture and the history of St. Patrick's Day.

Free St. Patrick's Day Writing Papers for Kids

with a Rainbow, Pot of Gold, and Four-Leaf Clovers

Please feel free to message me with any requests or comments.

Thank you so much!

❤️ Shelly Anton

Promoting Success for You and Your Students!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Promoting-Success

 

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Accommodations for Struggling Students on an IEP or Section 504 Plan

Accommodations Checklist for IEP Students, Students with a 504 Plan, or Students Needing Some Extra Assistance to Ensure Success

At this point in the school year, you have no doubt identified some struggling students. 🧐

Some of those students may have an IEP, some may have a 504 Plan, and some may just be struggling in a few areas.

As I am sure you know, there are laws to protect students and their right to a free and appropriate public education.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 addresses protections for students with disabilities. Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the department. OCR enforces section 504 in public elementary and secondary schools.

These laws help us understand that free isn't always equal; however, this information doesn't really help you help the students sitting right in front of you.

I spent pretty much my entire career teaching students with special education needs. I taught preschool, junior high (most at 3-5th grade level), high school, and even alternative education (hardest and most loved position). I was also a special education director for a few years. Even with that being said, I'm no expert. Every student is different, so what works with one student may not work with another. However, there are several best practices in terms of accommodations and modifications. It is also super important for students to be taught HOW to implement the accommodations, to have observable data in order to monitor progress, and to always have ongoing evaluation of each accommodation implemented. Also, don't do too many at once because how will you know which one is working?

Accommodations are adjustments made to the learning environment or instructional methods to help students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities. These accommodations are required by law under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding. Here are some possible Section 504 accommodations:

Here is a list of accommodations to implement with your students if needed:

1.  Visual aids: Using visual aids such as diagrams, pictures, videos, and graphs can help students better understand complex concepts and retain information.

2.  Technology: Technology can be a great tool for students with different learning needs. For example, students with reading difficulties can use text-to-speech software or audiobooks, while students with fine motor difficulties can use speech-to-text software or a keyboard.

3.  Differentiated instruction: Teachers can use differentiated instruction by providing different ways for students to access the material, such as offering alternative texts or providing hands-on activities. This approach allows students to learn in a way that is best suited to their individual needs.

4. Collaborative learning: Collaborative learning involves working in small groups or pairs. This approach can help students who may struggle with individual tasks but thrive in a more social environment.

5. Flexible seating: Flexible seating allows students to choose where they sit and how they sit. This approach can help students who may have difficulty sitting still for long periods or who may need to move around to focus.

6. Extended time: Allowing students more time to complete assignments or tests can help those who need more time to process information and work at their own pace.

7. Simplified language: Using simplified language can help students who struggle with reading comprehension or who are non-native speakers of the language.

8. Multi-modal instruction: Incorporating multiple modes of instruction, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, can help students learn in different ways and retain information better.

9. Manipulatives: Manipulatives are physical objects, such as blocks, counters, or cubes, that students can use to visualize and represent mathematical concepts. Manipulatives can be particularly helpful for students who struggle with abstract concepts.

10. Visual aids: Visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and diagrams, can help students better understand math concepts and procedures by providing a visual representation of the information.

11. Accommodations for language barriers: For students whose first language is not English, accommodations such as translated materials or a bilingual math teacher can help them better understand the material.

12. Modified assignments: Modified assignments that are tailored to students' individual needs can help them better understand and master math concepts.

13. Alternative assessments: Offering alternative forms of assessment, such as oral or written presentations, can provide students with alternative ways to demonstrate their understanding of math concepts.

14. Audio books: Audio books can be used to help students who struggle with reading comprehension or who have difficulty decoding text. By listening to a book while following along with the text, students can improve their reading fluency and comprehension.

15. Graphic organizers: Graphic organizers, such as mind maps or concept maps, can help students organize their thoughts and ideas while reading. These organizers can be particularly helpful for students who struggle with sequencing or recalling information.

16. Highlighters and sticky notes: Using highlighters and sticky notes can help students identify important information while reading and improve their retention of key concepts.

17. Vocabulary support: Providing support for vocabulary can help students who struggle with reading comprehension. This can include providing definitions, context clues, or visuals to help students better understand unfamiliar words.

18. One-on-one instruction: Providing one-on-one instruction can help students who need additional support with reading. This can include working with a reading specialist or tutor.

19. Note-taking assistance: Providing note-taking assistance, such as a note-taking service or a copy of the teacher's notes, can help students with disabilities who have difficulty taking notes during class.

20. Behavioral support: Providing behavioral support, such as a behavior plan or a sensory-friendly environment, can help students with disabilities who struggle with behavior or sensory issues.

It's important to note that accommodations should be based on individual needs and strengths, and should be used in conjunction with evidence-based instructional practices. They should also be determined through a collaborative process involving the student, parent/guardian, and school staff. By using accommodations, you can help struggling students have equal access to educational opportunities and achieve success in school.

If you want to see my complete checklist of 175 accommodations, please CLICK HERE to see it in my store. This resource has received excellent reviews from all grade levels from early childhood to 12+ and adult education! I find this completely amazing and overwhelmed by the number of students that hopefully achieved success as a result.

Here is what teachers like you had to say about this accommodations checklist:

★★★★★ "So comprehensive and helpful when thinking of the types of accommodations and modifications I can use with my students! Helps tremendously with IEP's as well!!"

★★★★★ "No frills, no cutesy font but I don't need that on this form. A wonderful straightforward easy to read and understand list of accommodations & modifications. Great tool to have when creating an IEP or discussing what a general education teachers can do for a students success."

★★★★★ "This is an excellent source - Full of ideas that I use everyday. Thank you!"

You may also like this Section 504 template mainly used for upper elementary grades and higher, please CLICK HERE.

★★★★★ "This is an excellent tool that I will use for years to come. You can use it generally for grading, or for special students who need accommodations. It is full of invaluable materials!"

★★★★★ "Great resource for documentation."

★★★★★ "Thanks for organizing these sheets for immediate use. I used these for my student teaching."

Please feel free to message me with any requests or comments.

Thank you so much!

❤️ Shelly Anton

Promoting Success for You and Your Students!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Promoting-Success

 

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!