Rocks, Dirt, and Mud
Lesson Planning Page
Welcome to the Rocks, Dirt, and Mud Lesson Planning Page! On this page you can find ideas to help you plan your Rocks, Dirt, and Mud theme.
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Drop Painting
Try this fun process art activity during this theme.
Try using dirt or mud in the nylons for a fun twist! Check out the tutorial here.
Try using dirt or mud in the nylons for a fun twist! Check out the tutorial here.
Paint Rocks
Bring a little nature inside, or art outside. Paint some rocks, add to the garden, or as decor in the classroom.
Open-ended Art with Rocks & Dirt
Sheena W. of Building Blocks provided heavy weight paper and glue outdoors for a fun process art invitation using dirt and rocks.
Muddy Fingerpainting
Invite preschoolers fingerpaint with brown paint (for added enrichment, have them create the color brown using 3 drops of red, 3 drops of yellow and 1 drop of blue paint).
**Anytime the kids are fingerpainting is a great time to take a handprint for use in crafts later. When they are done with their fingerpainting have them stamp their hand on a blank piece of paper, label with their name and the date.
**Anytime the kids are fingerpainting is a great time to take a handprint for use in crafts later. When they are done with their fingerpainting have them stamp their hand on a blank piece of paper, label with their name and the date.
Create Mud tracks
Create an invitation for your preschooler to Make the Color Brown, then dip trucks in and make mud tracks on paper.
More Creativity Ideas
- Paint with Rocks from Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Make Mud Paint from Learn Play Imagine
- Pudding Paint from Crystal & Co.
- *Make Stone Compositions and Take photos of them from Mid-Pacific
- Muddy Animal Painting from Munchkins and Moms
Preschoolers love to play with mud. Set up a mud kitchen where children can pretend to cook or consider setting up a mud exploration table where children can pretend to be geologists.
*Create an Outdoor Mud Kitchen
Take the Dramatic Play Outside and Create a Space for a Mud Kitchen. Gather old pots & pans, Strainers, Cupcake Pans, Cake Pans, and a variety of kitchen utensils.
Find inspiration for your mud exploration station in this related post all about mud kitchens!
*Add Materials to the Construction Space
Consider adding rocks, brown felt "Mud" and construction vehicles to the Construction Space this week.
Construct with Rocks
This can be done both outdoors and indoors. While outside, invite children to build freely with rocks, take pictures of their structures.
Inside set up a challenge with a set of rocks. How many can you stack? What can you make? Can you build a home?
Encourage children to build up as well as lay the rocks out on the table to create something.
Vocabulary to use: Structure, Stable, Balance, Smooth, Rough, Topple
Inside set up a challenge with a set of rocks. How many can you stack? What can you make? Can you build a home?
Encourage children to build up as well as lay the rocks out on the table to create something.
Vocabulary to use: Structure, Stable, Balance, Smooth, Rough, Topple
Build Landmarks Around the WOrld
Challenge your preschoolers to build Landmarks Around the World. Place these posters in your Construction Space. Talk about the materials that were used to make the structures. Add stones and other materials for the children to build with. Discuss the challenges and benefits to the different types of materials.
Add a Rock Chute
Take a cardboard tube, preferably from gift wrap however a shorter tube from paper towels will work too. Cut the tube in half lengthwise. Supply small rocks in the construction area for children to send down the chute to a construction pit.
More Construction Ideas
- Stack a Stone Rainbow from Adventures of Adam
- Make Mud Bricks from Education.com
Mud Pie Recipe Cards
Add some good clean fun to your morning math centers.
Set up these Mud Pie Recipe Cards with or without some brown play dough (mud).
Preschoolers practice numeral recognition as they read the numbers on the card, then count out the ingredients as they add them to their pie.
This activity is also great for literacy development as preschoolers are learning to read from left-to-right and top-to-bottom. The ingredients are also labeled.
Set up these Mud Pie Recipe Cards with or without some brown play dough (mud).
Preschoolers practice numeral recognition as they read the numbers on the card, then count out the ingredients as they add them to their pie.
This activity is also great for literacy development as preschoolers are learning to read from left-to-right and top-to-bottom. The ingredients are also labeled.
Rock counting Ten-Frames
Pair the Rock Counting Ten-Frames from the Rocks, Dirt, and Mud Activity pack with rocks or the included printable counters.
Rock Sorting
Pair an egg carton and rocks for preschoolers to practice sorting skills.
Leave this activity open-ended; How can you sort the rocks?
Leave this activity open-ended; How can you sort the rocks?
Rock Count & Clip Cards
Preschoolers and tots love using clothespins, which is fantastic since they give little fingers a big workout! In addition to developing fine motor skills, children are developing number sense with this engaging activity.
Included in the Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
Included in the Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
Number Rocks in the Dirt
Add dirt or sand to your sensory bin. Collect 10 rocks, write the numbers 1-10 on them and bury in the dirt.
As children find the rocks encourage them to identify the numerals.
As children find the rocks encourage them to identify the numerals.
*Let's Build Letters
Use the letter mats and some small rocks as an engaging way for preschoolers to practice letter formation.
These letter mats are included in the PKPF Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
These letter mats are included in the PKPF Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
Use a Reference Book
Preschoolers are learning that books can be more than a fun story. They are a source of information!
Set out a reference book for preschoolers to compare their rocks to.
Set out a reference book for preschoolers to compare their rocks to.
Pigs in the Mud Seek-and-Find
Pigs love rolling in mud almost as much as preschoolers do.
Use these pigs in mud letter cards to practice uppercase & lowercase letter matching and recognition.
Included in the PKPF Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
Use these pigs in mud letter cards to practice uppercase & lowercase letter matching and recognition.
Included in the PKPF Rocks, Dirt, & Mud Activity Pack.
Fun Books about Rocks, Dirt, and Mud
- Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie Myra Rosinsky and Sheree Boyd
- Let's Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans
- Mud by Mary Lyn Ray
Reading Comprehension:
Harry the Dirty Dog
Listen to Betty White read Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.
After the story, make some real world connections through discussion.
Ask students if they ever saw a dog that got dirty. How did the dog get dirty? Have they ever given a dog a bath? What happened? Ask students to make comparisons between their experiences and the book.
After the story, make some real world connections through discussion.
Ask students if they ever saw a dog that got dirty. How did the dog get dirty? Have they ever given a dog a bath? What happened? Ask students to make comparisons between their experiences and the book.
I can Give my Dog a Bath
Extend the learning!
The PKPF I Can Give My Dog a Bath: Read and Sequence Set is a fun activity where you can read a rebus story with your preschooler then work on sequencing to improve Reading Comprehension.
The PKPF I Can Give My Dog a Bath: Read and Sequence Set is a fun activity where you can read a rebus story with your preschooler then work on sequencing to improve Reading Comprehension.
More Language & Literacy Ideas
- 5 Ways to use Story Stones from the Artful Parent
- Rock Letter Matching from Parent Teach Play
Create a place to explore rocks: Add Magnifying glasses, and plenty of specimens. Include Books, and Magazines about Rocks.
*Above Ground Below Ground
Take a trip outside to explore what lives above ground, and what lives below. Be sure to grab a shovel, and a magnifying glass. Use this above ground/below ground sorting mat from my Rocks. Dirt, Mud activity pack to compliment your exploration.
Rock Discovery Center
Darlene G. created this rock invitation This science discover center is placed in a corner with just a couple of chairs to create a private, and cozy space for just a few children to explore specimens. In addition to magnifying glasses, she has also included a balance scale that allows children to explore the weights of different materials.
Get Muddy
Sheena W. suits her kiddos up in mud suits and rain boots for plenty of free exploration outdoors
Explore Rocks, Dirt, & Mud
There is so much to explore with rocks, dirt, & mud.
Supply children with shovels, containers, and a space to dig.
Supply children with shovels, containers, and a space to dig.
Create a Sediment Jar
Create a sediment jar to observe how dirt falls in layers.
Invite preschoolers to help add the materials to the jar. Talk about and identify each of the materials as they are added. For added math enrichment use measuring cups to add the materials.
Collect two different types of dirt or sand, rocks, and water. Add to the jar and shake.
Leave the jar to settle on a shelf, encourage children to draw a picture of what they see. Ask; What do you see happening? What do you think the mixture will look like later today or tomorrow?
Leave the jar to sit for a few hours. When you come back ask children to make observations and draw a new picture.
Invite preschoolers to help add the materials to the jar. Talk about and identify each of the materials as they are added. For added math enrichment use measuring cups to add the materials.
Collect two different types of dirt or sand, rocks, and water. Add to the jar and shake.
Leave the jar to settle on a shelf, encourage children to draw a picture of what they see. Ask; What do you see happening? What do you think the mixture will look like later today or tomorrow?
Leave the jar to sit for a few hours. When you come back ask children to make observations and draw a new picture.
Study Dirt & Rocks
Supply preschoolers with sifters and shovels.
Invite them to add dirt to the sifters. Make observations about what they see. Gently shake the sifter, now what do they see? Are there materials beyond dirt and rocks?
After one round, invite preschoolers to predict what they will find the next time.
Invite them to add dirt to the sifters. Make observations about what they see. Gently shake the sifter, now what do they see? Are there materials beyond dirt and rocks?
After one round, invite preschoolers to predict what they will find the next time.
Sort Rocks By Type
Use this Rock Sorting by Type activity from the Rocks, Dirt & Mud activity pack to explore all kinds of rock types.
Then, compare the rocks in your classroom collection to the ones on the mat.
Then, compare the rocks in your classroom collection to the ones on the mat.
Create a Volcano
Create a volcano with dirt and rocks, add baking soda to the center and then invite preschoolers to set it off by adding vinegar.
More Science & Discovery Ideas
- Explore Rocks from Jennifer Kable
- Light Table Geology from B-Inspired Mama
- Rock Match up from Living Montessori Now
- Clean Mud Off-Road Sensory Play from Stir the Wonder
- Color Matching with Rocks from Smart School House
- Make Mud pies from B-Inspired Mama
- Mud Dough from Kid's Activities Blog
*Geologist Puzzle
*Rock Sorting
Turn this activity into a relay race or seek-and-find activity to get kids moving.
More Ideas
Learn about Rocks as Tools & Homes
Learn about the how rocks have been used as tools. Learn about mud homes. Learn about rock formations, structures, sculptures and landmarks.
Grand Canyon on Youtube
Pyramids on Youtube
Mud Home Structure on YouTube
Stonehenge on YouTube
Giant Heads of Easter Island on YouTube
Mount Rushmore on YouTube
Take a Trip
There are all kinds of fun ways to engage in the community. Here are three options for this theme depending on the structure of your program.
- Travel: Take a field trip to a construction site, arrange the trip ahead of time to give kids a chance to safely get a close look at equipment and materials. Or plan to watch from a safe distance.
- Invite an Expert: Invite a construction worker to your program to talk about what they do. Be sure to ask questions about how rocks and dirt are a part of their work.
- Take a virtual field trip like this one from Kidvision Pre-K
More Ideas
Rock Sharing
Before circle time go on a Rock Hunt with your preschoolers. Invite each child to bring one rock back with them.
During circle time give children each a turn to describe their rock using one or two words.
During circle time give children each a turn to describe their rock using one or two words.
*Pigs in the Mud Roll & Count
Play a cooperative game with your kids. Take turns, working together to meet a common goal. This pigs in the mud game can be found inside my rocks, dirt and mud activity pack. Children work together to add all of the pigs to the mud. Try this for free!
Rock Sharing from Home
Ask families to share any rock specimens they may have at home. Invite them to come and talk about them if they wish, or simply add to the science space for the week.
Go on a Rock Hunt
Encourage families to find a rock around their neighborhood or in their backyard.
Families can research the type of rock using the internet or classroom resources.
Children can bring the rock in to share during circle time.
Families can research the type of rock using the internet or classroom resources.
Children can bring the rock in to share during circle time.
