Three Types of Rock

Introduce the three types of rock with this one-page reading and sorting worksheet! Students read about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock, then identify rocks by how they formed.

The passage explains that geologists sort rocks into three types by how they form. Igneous rock forms when melted rock cools and hardens. Magma that cools slowly underground makes granite with large crystals, while lava that cools fast on the surface makes basalt, glassy obsidian, or pumice full of tiny gas holes. Sedimentary rock forms from sediments, bits of rock, sand, mud, and shells, that settle in layers, get pressed together, and are glued into rock, like sandstone, shale, and limestone. Metamorphic rock forms when heat and pressure deep underground change a rock without melting it, so limestone becomes marble and shale becomes slate. A simple doodle shows three rocks side by side. In the first activity, students read six clues and write I, S, or M for each one. In the second activity, students draw lines to match five rocks, such as granite and marble, to how each one formed. The sheet is written to Texas TEKS 6.10C and also fits NGSS MS-ESS2-1.

What's inside:

• A short passage with a doodle of three rocks
• 6 igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic letter boxes
• 5 rock and formation matches
• A visual answer key

How teachers use it:

• As an introduction to rocks and the rock cycle
• For bell work, stations, or an exit ticket
• As homework or sub plans, with no prep needed

It takes about 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. This worksheet is part of our Reading in Science series on Earth's systems.