Rocks & MineralsGrade 4 Science for Kids

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, the rock cycle and mineral hardness.

Rocks & Minerals helps fourth graders sort rocks into igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic families, put the rock cycle in order and test minerals from soft talc to super-hard diamond. Hands-on geology for kids.

  • Grade 4 · Ages 9–10
  • 3 lessons
  • 3 experiments
  • 12 practice questions
  • About 25 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Three Rock Families
  • Rock Families
  • The Rock Cycle
  • Round the Rock Cycle
  • Mineral Hardness
  • Scratch Test

Science lab course · Grade 4

Rocks & Minerals · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Sort rocks into their three families, put the rock cycle in order, and test minerals from soft talc to super-hard diamond.

  • Rocks come in three families: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
  • In the rock cycle, rocks melt, cool, break down and change into new rocks, over and over.
  • Minerals have different hardness. Diamond (10) is the hardest; talc (1) is the softest.

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • Reading the Earth

    Rock types tell the story of how land formed over millions of years.

  • The rock cycle

    Kids learn that rocks change from one type to another, a key earth science cycle.

  • Minerals in daily life

    Minerals are in phones, pencils, salt and jewelry.

Inside Rocks & Minerals

How the Course Works

Each level has a short read-aloud lesson, an interactive experiment and a mini quiz.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Three Rock Families

    Igneous rocks form when melted rock (magma or lava) cools and hardens.

  2. Step 2 · Experiment

    Rock Families

    Geologists sort rocks by how they were made. Which family does each rock belong to?

  3. Step 3 · Lesson

    The Rock Cycle

    Rocks slowly change from one kind to another in the rock cycle.

  4. Step 4 · Experiment

    Round the Rock Cycle

    Let's follow a rock on its very long journey. Put the rock cycle in order.

  5. Step 5 · Lesson

    Mineral Hardness

    Rocks are made of minerals, like quartz, mica and calcite.

  6. Step 6 · Experiment

    Scratch Test

    Let's test five minerals on the Mohs hardness scale.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Three Rock Families

Igneous rocks form when melted rock (magma or lava) cools and hardens.

Sedimentary rocks form when layers of sand, mud and shells press together.

Metamorphic rocks form when heat and pressure change other rocks.

The Rock Cycle

Rocks slowly change from one kind to another in the rock cycle.

It takes millions of years, but it never stops!

Melting, cooling, weathering, pressing and heating all play a part.

Mineral Hardness

Rocks are made of minerals, like quartz, mica and calcite.

Scientists test hardness: which mineral can scratch which?

The Mohs scale goes from 1 (talc, very soft) to 10 (diamond, the hardest).

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Start a small rock collection. Test each rock's hardness with a fingernail, a coin and a nail, and record the results.

Rock Families

  1. Make 'sedimentary rock': layer sand, soil and gravel in a cup.
  2. Pour in watery glue and let it dry for days.
  3. Peel off the cup and see the layers!

Rocks come in three families: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Round the Rock Cycle

  1. Use 3 colors of crayon shavings (sediment).
  2. Press them in foil (sedimentary), then warm them in the sun (metamorphic).
  3. A grown-up can melt and cool them (igneous)!

In the rock cycle, rocks melt, cool, break down and change into new rocks, over and over.

Scratch Test

  1. Try scratching chalk with your fingernail (it scratches!).
  2. Try a fingernail on a glass jar (it doesn't!).
  3. Your nail is about 2.5 on the Mohs scale.

Minerals have different hardness. Diamond (10) is the hardest; talc (1) is the softest.

Practice

Grade 4 Science Practice Questions

Real questions from Rocks & Minerals. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    How do igneous rocks form?

    • A.Layers press together
    • B.Melted rock cools and hardens
    • C.Plants grow on them
    Show answer

    Melted rock cools and hardens

  2. Question 2

    How long does the rock cycle take?

    • A.One day
    • B.One year
    • C.Millions of years
    Show answer

    Millions of years

  3. Question 3

    What is the hardest mineral?

    • A.Diamond
    • B.Talc
    • C.Gypsum
    Show answer

    Diamond

The full course has 12 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Rocks & Minerals · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Rocks & Minerals is a grade 4 science course for kids ages 9–10. That is Year 5 science in the UK and Year 4 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Sort rocks into their three families, put the rock cycle in order, and test minerals from soft talc to super-hard diamond. Along the way they practice: Rocks come in three families: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic; In the rock cycle, rocks melt, cool, break down and change into new rocks, over and over; Minerals have different hardness. Diamond (10) is the hardest; talc (1) is the softest.

How long does the course take?

About 25 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Rocks & Minerals is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

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