This module introduces students to materials that make up Earth's crust: rocks, soil, and fossils. Students begin by examining rock and mineral samples. They observe that rocks are made up of combinations of minerals, and that minerals can be identified by properties, including color, texture, and hardness.

Student Resources

• 1.1 Vocabulary
• 1.2 My Rock Collection
• 1.3 Section 1 Assessment

Learn by Reading

For additional content-area reading, check out the Houghton Mifflin Science eBook: Grade 2, Unit C, pages 8–9, C6, L1–3.