Sedimentary Rock and Fossil Fuels Activities for 5th Grade Science

The Kesler Science Sedimentary Rocks and Fossil Fuels 5th Grade 5E Complete Lesson provides all the materials needed for a multi-day lesson on rock layers and ground fuel sources. This student-led lesson uses the 5E Model—Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation—to ensure a comprehensive, engaging learning experience with minimal prep. Students will explore key questions such as the processes behind the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels, and their importance.

The lesson includes differentiated, multimodal materials for diverse learning styles, including editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and Spanish translations. The student-led station lab features nine stations offering hands-on experiments, readings, research tasks, videos, and writing activities, providing students with varied ways to absorb and demonstrate their knowledge.

With flexible, printable or digital formats, the lesson is ideal for both in-person and virtual classrooms. Additional bonus activities, assessment options, and student-choice projects further enrich learning, making this complete lesson a comprehensive, adaptable resource for teaching sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.

Engage your classroom with this student-led station lab aligned to Earth science standards, focusing on the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels. Designed for fifth-grade students, this lesson supports both in-class and virtual learning with minimal teacher prep. Through hands-on activities and interactive content, students explore how sedimentary rock and fossil fuels form, while building critical thinking and content knowledge.

The lab includes nine modular stations that allow students to work independently or in small groups. Eight differentiated stations guide learners through reading passages, videos, websites, drawing models, writing responses, organizing information, and hands-on tasks. A ninth challenge station offers extension activities for early finishers. Materials are provided in both English and Spanish, and digital versions are compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.

With a student-centered approach, teachers facilitate while students drive their own learning. Multimodal input stations help students absorb new information, while output stations give them opportunities to show understanding in creative and academic ways. This engaging, low-prep resource encourages exploration and supports diverse learning needs.

The Kesler Science Sedimentary Rocks and Fossil Fuels Student Choice Projects give 5th grade students the freedom to choose a project that suits their learning style. With six student-led project options and a “design your own” choice, students can creatively demonstrate their knowledge. Teachers have the flexibility to modify the grading rubric to meet specific needs, whether through peer, teacher, or self-assessment.

These projects are versatile, offering multimodal options for students to express their understanding. The Student Choice Projects come with clear directions, editable rubrics, and nine project options, plus the ability for students to create their own project. For students needing differentiation or more of a challenge, modified versions and combinations of projects are available.

The Student Choice Projects use easily accessible classroom materials like paper, markers, and scissors. Many projects can also be done digitally, while crafting supplies may be needed for building models. 

The Kesler Science 5th Grade Earth Science Interactive Notebook bundle provides 11 essential topics with multiple templates, making science lessons more engaging and accessible. Designed for traditional, 1:1, and distance learning environments, this resource includes both print and digital formats to fit any classroom setting.  

The digital version features unique interactive PowerPoint files, Google Slides compatibility, reflection pages, and modified templates for students needing accommodations. The paper version includes blank and pre-filled templates, plus color photo examples for easy implementation.  

Covering key earth science topics like the water cycle, Earth's rotation, weather, and fossil fuels, these interactive notebooks help students organize their learning while giving teachers an adaptable, low-prep resource.