Grade 4: Science: Rocks and Minerals

Holly Keller has created vivacious new paintings for this favorite Reading Rainbow title about geology. Readers follow two enthusiastic rock hounds around the globe as they add to their collection. Along the way they will learn how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks are formed. From the Egyptian pyramids to Roman roads, from the diamond ring on your finger to the pebbles under your feet'rocks are everywhere!

Have you ever wondered what a tectonic plate is, or how it moves? What is the most common kind of rock in the earth's crust? How do igneous rocks form? Read ‘Igneous Rocks’ to find the answers to these questions and many more. You'll also find a hands-on activity to try at home or at school, as well as a glossary of unfamiliar words, resources to help you locate additional information, and a useful index.

Have you ever wondered how gemstones are formed, or what a petrologist is? Can you name the layers of the earth? Do you know how we use metamorphic rocks in daily life? Read ‘Metamorphic Rocks’ to find the answers to these questions and many more. You'll also find a hands-on activity to try at home or at school, as well as a glossary of unfamiliar words, resources to help you locate additional information, and a useful index.

How did the Grand Canyon get so deep? Do you know what kind of rocks erodes most quickly? What items in your classroom do you think are made from sedimentary rocks? Read ‘Sedimentary Rocks’ to find the answers to these questions and many more. You'll also find a hands-on activity to try at home or at school, as well as a glossary of unfamiliar words, resources to help you locate additional information, and a useful index.