Rocks That Hold Water and Oil

Rocks That Hold Water and Oil Worksheet: Rocks that store resources (Grade 4 Science)

Students look at close-ups of limestone, sandstone, and granite, circle how many spaces each has and how much water or oil it can store, then apply it to the Edwards Aquifer under San Antonio and oil in West Texas. The page teaches the idea first, so no prior lesson is needed, and every answer is on the page.

What's Inside

• A teach box on pores and how rocks store water, oil, and gas, with a sponge example
• Part A: three rock close-ups; circle how many spaces and how much they store
• Part B: the Edwards Aquifer and West Texas oil with three circle questions
• A raccoon guide with a hint that matches the answer key
• An answer key with answers marked in red, plus a short teacher note with what to watch for

How Teachers Use It

Read the teach box and the worked example together, then let students try Part A and Part B. It takes 8 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. The focus skill is determining the properties of rocks that let them store resources. Standards: TEKS 4.11C: determine the physical properties of rocks that allow Earth’s natural resources to be stored there.

Why It Works

Real Texas places like the Edwards Aquifer show why rock spaces matter. Questions are short, mostly circle answers, and the reasoning is on the teacher key.