This free 3rd grade science worksheet covers the difference between rocks and minerals, plus properties like hardness and color.
Rocks are made of one or more minerals. Minerals are natural solid materials found in the Earth. Each mineral has its own properties, like color, hardness, and shine. Quartz is a very hard, shiny mineral. Calcite is softer and often white. Scientists use these properties to identify minerals. Granite is a rock made of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Studying rocks and minerals helps us understand Earth's history.
Rocks and minerals are a classic 3rd grade earth science topic. This worksheet helps students distinguish between rocks and minerals and introduces basic physical properties used to identify them.