Rocks Work Sheets and Coloring Pages for Learning Geology

A child playing with many diverse stones and rocks on a tree stump
Manuel Gutjahr / Getty Images

Rocks and stones are hard solids of natural origin and made of minerals. Some common rocks can be scratched with your fingernails such as shale, soapstone, gypsum rock, and peat. Others may be soft in the ground, but they harden once they spend time in the air. There are three main types of rocks:

Igneous rocks are formed when melted rock (magma) cools and solidifies. Some igneous rocks are formed when the magma erupts from a volcano. Obsidian, basalt, and granite are all examples of igneous rocks.

Sedimentary rocks are created when layers of sediment (minerals, other rocks, or organic material) are compressed over time. Chalk, limestone, and flint are all examples of sedimentary rocks.

Metamorphic rocks are formed when igneous and sedimentary rocks are changed by intense heat or pressure. Marble (from limestone, a sedimentary rock) and granulite (from basalt, an igneous rock) are examples of metamorphic rocks. 

Ideas for Learning About Rocks

Rocks are fascinating and easy to find. Try these activity ideas for learning more about them:

  1. Start a collection. Pick up rocks when you're on nature walks (if doing so is allowed) or out running errands. Look for rocks from different areas when you travel out of state. You may even ask out-of-state friends and relatives to send you interesting rocks that they find. 
  2. Identify the rocks you find. An empty egg carton makes a great storage container for small rocks. You can write the name of each rock in the slot made to hold the eggs or make a key inside the carton lid.
  3. Learn about the rock cycle.
  4. Visit a natural history museum or planetarium. Most will have a rock collection on display.
  5. Experiment with your rock collection. Is your rock magnetic? Does it float? How much does it weigh?
  6. Make a pet rock.

Use the following free printables to help students learn the terminology associated with rocks. Once they complete the worksheets, the young learners will morph into amateur geologists in no time.

Rocks Vocabulary Study Sheet

Rocks Vocabulary Study Sheet
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Vocabulary Study Sheet

Use this study sheet to begin learning about different types of rocks and terminology related to rocks. Use a dictionary or the internet to find the meaning of each term. Then, match each to its correct definition.

Rocks Vocabulary

Rocks Vocabulary Worksheet
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Vocabulary

In this activity, students familiarize themselves with rock-related vocabulary. Let your children use a dictionary or the internet to define each term in the word bank. Then, they will write each word on the blank line next to the correct definition.

Rocks Word Search

Rocks Word Search Worksheet
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Word Search

This activity allows students to review rock-related vocabulary in a fun way. Students can review the definition of each word. Then, they will find the terms among the jumbled letters in the word search.

Rocks Crossword Puzzle

Rocks Crossword Puzzle
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Crossword Puzzle

This rock-themed crossword puzzle turns vocabulary review into a game. Students will fill in the puzzle with the correct rock-related terms. They may wish to refer back to the vocabulary study sheet if they have trouble remembering any of the terms.

Rocks Alphabet Activity

Rocks Alphabet Activity
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Alphabet Activity

This activity allows students to practice alphabetizing words while reviewing vocabulary associated with rocks. Instruct students to place each word from the word bank in correct alphabetical order.

Rocks Spelling Worksheet

Rocks Spelling Worksheet
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Spelling Worksheet

On this printable, students can test their spelling skills with words associated with rocks. For each clue, children will select the correctly spelled word from the multiple-choice options.

Rocks Coloring Page

Rocks Coloring Page
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Coloring Page

Use this coloring page to supplement your study of rocks or as a quiet activity while you read aloud to your students about rocks and geology.

This image depicts Big Bend National Park, located in southwest Texas. The Santa Elena Canyon features steep limestone cliffs giving visitors a beautiful, firsthand view of sedimentary rocks.

Rocks Challenge Worksheet

Rocks Challenge Worksheet
Beverly Hernandez

Print the PDF: Rocks Challenge Worksheet

Use this printable to wrap up your unit on rocks by challenging your students to show what they know about rocks. For each clue, students will circle the correct word from the multiple-choice options.

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Hernandez, Beverly. "Rocks Work Sheets and Coloring Pages for Learning Geology." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/rocks-worksheets-and-coloring-pages-1832346. Hernandez, Beverly. (2023, April 5). Rocks Work Sheets and Coloring Pages for Learning Geology. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/rocks-worksheets-and-coloring-pages-1832346 Hernandez, Beverly. "Rocks Work Sheets and Coloring Pages for Learning Geology." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/rocks-worksheets-and-coloring-pages-1832346 (accessed March 29, 2024).