4th Grade - Rocks and Minerals Worksheet

Ava examines three rock samples:

• Sample 1 has rounded sand grains and tiny shell bits cemented in layers.

• Sample 2 is glassy with a few air holes, formed from melted material that cooled quickly.

• Sample 3 shows wavy bands of flattened crystals from heat and pressure.

What is the correct order of rock types Ava is observing?

• metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous

• sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic

• igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary

• sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Carlos compares two minerals. One shines like metal and the other looks earthy and dull. Which physical property is he observing?

• luster

• color

• cleavage

• streak

Which sequence of rock types does this show?

• sedimentary → igneous → metamorphic

• metamorphic → sedimentary → igneous

• igneous → metamorphic → sedimentary

• igneous → sedimentary → metamorphic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

A student uses four tools to study a mineral: streak plate, a piece of glass, a small hammer, and a flashlight.

Which pairing best matches each property to a tool?

• streak color—flashlight;

  luster—glass;

  cleavage—hammer;

  hardness—streak plate

• hardness—hammer;

  cleavage—streak plate;

  luster—glass;

  streak color—flashlight

• streak color—streak plate;

  luster—flashlight;

  cleavage—hammer;

  hardness—glass

• luster—streak plate;

  streak color—hammer;

  hardness—flashlight;

  cleavage—glass

In a flowchart of the rock cycle, which pair of steps shows igneous rock forming?

• melted rock cools → rock breaks into pieces

• rock breaks into pieces → pieces are compacted and cemented into new rock

• rock melts into magma → magma cools and hardens

• pieces are compacted → heat and pressure change the rock

A student tests four unknown minerals:

• W scratches glass; gray streak; metallic.

• X does not scratch glass; white streak; dull.

• Y scratches X but not glass; shiny.

• Z is the softest; powdery look.

Which mineral is most likely the hardest?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Rock samples:

• A: coarse, interlocking crystals; no layers; cooled slowly underground.

• B: flat layered grains with a fossil shell fragment.

• C: shiny, platy minerals with banding; changed by heat and pressure without melting.

• D: very small crystals with bubble holes; cooled at the surface.

Which classification is best?

• A = igneous,

  B = sedimentary,

  C = metamorphic,

  D = igneous

• A = sedimentary,

  B = metamorphic,

  C = igneous,

  D = sedimentary

• A = metamorphic,

  B = sedimentary,

  C = igneous,

  D = metamorphic

• A = igneous,

  B = igneous,

  C = sedimentary,

  D = metamorphic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Two metallic-looking samples appear almost identical. On the streak plate, Sample P leaves a black streak and Sample Q leaves a greenish streak.

What is the best conclusion?

• They’re the same mineral since color and luster match; streak doesn’t matter.

• Different streak colors suggest they are likely different minerals.

• The greener streak means Sample Q is softer; softer minerals always leave lighter streaks.

• The darker streak proves Sample P has cleavage.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Modeling stations:

• Station 1: Melt candy chips and let some cool slowly, others on ice. Results: slow-cooled = large crystals; fast-cooled = tiny crystals; no layers.

• Station 2: Layer sand, silt, and gravel; add glue water; press with a weight; grains cement; fossils can be trapped.

• Station 3: Stack crayon shavings between boards; warm with a safe heating pad and clamp—no melting—layers become wavy and sheets flatten.

Match each station to the rock type it models.

• 1 = metamorphic;

  2 = sedimentary;

  3 = igneous

• 1 = sedimentary;

  = igneous;

  3 = metamorphic

• 1 = igneous;

  2 = sedimentary;

  3 = metamorphic

• 1 = sedimentary;

  2 = metamorphic;

  3 = igneous

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

A museum’s quartz and calcite piles got mixed. Tests show:

• Quartz: glassy luster, no cleavage, white streak, hardness 7

• Calcite: glassy luster, blocky cleavage, white streak, hardness 3

Which procedure will separate them without damage so they remain saleable?

• Break pieces with a hammer and sort by how they shatter.

• Rub on a streak plate and sort by streak (white vs. gray).

• Hold in light and sort by how “shiny” each looks.

• Try to scratch a piece of glass: minerals that scratch glass are quartz; those that don’t are calcite.