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Identify a rock

Identify a rock
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Collect rocks, observe color, texture, hardness, and streak; use simple tests and a field guide to identify different rock types safely outdoors.

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Step-by-step guide to identify a rock

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33. How to Identify Rocks

What you need
Adult supervision required, magnifying glass, pencil, penny, rock field guide or rock id app, small bag or container, small notebook, steel nail, white ceramic tile or unglazed porcelain tile

Step 1

Pick a safe outdoor spot to look for rocks.

Step 2

Bring your Materials to the spot.

Step 3

Collect three to five small rocks and put them in your bag.

Step 4

Choose one rock from your bag to study closely.

Step 5

Look at the rock and write its main color in your notebook.

Step 6

Feel the rock and write whether it is smooth rough or grainy.

Step 7

Use the magnifying glass to search the rock for tiny crystals or grains.

Step 8

Draw what you see through the magnifying glass in your notebook.

Step 9

Try to scratch the rock with your fingernail and write whether the nail made a scratch.

Step 10

Try to scratch the rock with a penny then with a steel nail and write which tool made a scratch.

Step 11

Rub the rock on the white tile to see the streak color and use your field guide to find the best match for color texture hardness and streak; write the rock name and where you found it.

Step 12

Share your finished rock report and pictures of your rock on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a magnifying glass, white tile, or a penny/steel nail?

Use a smartphone camera zoom or strong reading glasses instead of the magnifying glass, the unglazed bottom of a ceramic mug or a spare porcelain tile for the white tile streak test, and a copper coin or a house key in place of a penny or steel nail to try the scratch steps.

What should we do if the rock doesn't show crystals under the magnifying glass, won't scratch with the penny, or leaves no streak on the tile?

Gently clean and, if safe, wet the chosen rock before re-examining and redrawing it in your notebook, try the harder tool (steel nail or key) if the penny doesn't scratch, and rub a fresh, flat area of the rock on the white tile to test for streak color.

How can we adapt the activity for toddlers, elementary-aged kids, and older kids?

For toddlers simplify to collecting rocks, naming the main color and feeling, and drawing them in the notebook; for elementary kids follow all steps including the magnifying-glass observations and scratch tests; and for older kids add recording hardness with the penny/nail comparisons, using the field guide to name the rock and noting where it was found.

How can we extend or personalize the rock-identifying activity before sharing the report on DIY.org?

Create a small labeled display or scrapbook using the rocks from your bag with photos taken through the magnifying glass or smartphone, include the notebook drawings, field-guide identifications, and location notes, then upload the finished rock report and pictures to DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to identify a rock

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Identifying Rocks and Minerals - Using Physical Properties for Identification

4 Videos

Facts about geology for kids

🌈 Iron minerals often make rocks red or brown, while copper minerals can turn them green or blue.

🪨 Rocks are made of one or more minerals — like cookies made from different ingredients!

📚 Rocks belong to three families — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic — each with its own textures and stories.

🔎 The streak test (rub a rock on unglazed porcelain) reveals a mineral's true color even if the outside looks different.

🧪 You can test hardness safely: fingernail ≈2.5, copper coin ≈3, steel nail ≈5, and glass ≈5.5 on the Mohs scale.

How do I guide my child to identify a rock outdoors?

Start by having your child collect a few small, safe rocks. Observe color, grain size, and surface texture first. Test hardness by gently scratching with a fingernail, penny, or steel nail (adult supervised). Check streak by rubbing the rock on an unglazed porcelain tile. Compare notes and photos to a simple field guide to decide if it’s igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. Record findings in a notebook and discuss results together.

What materials do I need to identify rocks with my child?

Gather a small bag or bucket, notebook and pencil, magnifying loupe or hand lens, unglazed porcelain tile (streak plate), penny or steel nail for hardness tests, safety gloves and closed-toe shoes, a small brush and container for loose dirt, a camera or phone for photos, and a kid-friendly field guide or printable identification chart. Optional items: ruler for scale and a clipboard to write on while outdoors.

What ages are rock identification activities suitable for?

Rock identification can be adapted for ages 3–14. Toddlers (3–5) enjoy sensory collection and sorting by color and texture with close supervision. Ages 6–9 can do simple tests like streaks and hardness with adult help and begin using a basic field guide. Ages 10–14 can perform more careful tests, take notes, and compare results to guide photos and descriptions. Always supervise tests that involve tools or sharp edges.

What are the benefits and safety tips for a rock-identifying activity?

Benefits include improved observation, vocabulary, scientific thinking, and outdoor engagement. It encourages curiosity about Earth science and recording results. For safety, wear gloves and closed-toe shoes, avoid steep or wet areas, don’t put rocks in mouths, and supervise hardness or streak tests. Teach respect for nature: take only fallen rocks or very small samples, and leave sensitive areas undisturbed. Wash hands after handling rocks.
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