Make Describing Rocks and Minerals Easy With Us!

Introducing young learners to academic vocabulary can be a challenge, but using visual word walls is a highly effective and engaging strategy—especially for topics like rocks and minerals. A visual word walk takes students on a “tour” of important terms through pictures and examples of academic vocabulary displayed around the classroom.

Exploring and Describing Rocks and Minerals Vocabulary Cards

When teaching rocks and minerals, visual word walls help students access and retain complex vocabulary like “igneous,” “sedimentary,” and “metamorphic. ” They also build their understanding of basic observable properties like “texture,” “color,” and “hardness.” By connecting words to images, students can more easily grasp scientific concepts and confidently use these terms during discussions or activities.

This printable resource includes 28 full-color vocabulary word cards featuring the words students need to observe and describe rocks and minerals. Each easy-to-read vocabulary card features a term or phrase and a photographic example of each term. 

Ways to Use This Rocks and Minerals Word Wall

• Use the word wall to introduce new terms related to rocks and minerals. As you begin your lessons, refer to each word with its visual aid to help students understand terms like “igneous,” “sedimentary,” “hardness,” and “luster.”
• Spotlight a “word of the day” from the word wall. Focus on that word during the lesson, and encourage students to use it in sentences or in class discussions.
• Set up a scavenger hunt in which students search for rocks around the classroom or school and describe them using words from the wall. For example, they might use the wall vocabulary to describe a found rock’s texture or color.

Download and Print!

This resource is available as an easy-to-use Google Slides or Printable PDF Resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select your preferred file format. 

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator.

More Printable Rocks and Minerals Resources for Elementary Grades

Before you go, don’t miss out on a world of educational possibilities! Explore our related resources to enhance your teaching toolkit.

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