Rock Cycle Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the rock cycle and the processes involved in the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday instruction with minimal prep, the lesson emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers more time to support student success.

Essential Question for Students

• What processes are involved in the formation and classification of metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated materials for students who need additional support

• Multimodal learning to sustain student engagement

• Flexible delivery—resources available in printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson is organized around the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, guided learning, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, a classroom activity, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the rock cycle through multimodal activities

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured follow-up tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection questions

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Categorization tasks using printable and digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended responses requiring complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching to reinforce retention of concepts

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Puzzles, games, and mini-projects for early finishers or advanced learners

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking organizers to support presentations

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on the rock cycle for extended or at-home learning

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, available in standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for practice, homework, or test prep

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual classrooms. The digital station lab and interactive notebook activities are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making it easy to integrate into blended or online learning environments.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.