Rocks and Dirt by Ellen McHenry
Curriculum guides and projects and activities and lessons
PEP policy guidance
A deterministic result from the reviewed 2026–27 rule pack. It is guidance, not a funding guarantee.
The reviewed source is review due. Recheck the current official guide before relying on this guidance.
- Program and school year
- FTC-PEP · 2026-27
- Rule pack
- step-up-ftc-pep-2026-27 · v1.0.1
- Evidence level
- Official category rule
- Source freshness
- Review due · Low
How this result was reached
The engine applies explicit rules in precedence order and records what is still unknown.
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Rules applied
- Curriculum is authorized with format and availability conditions
PEP-2026-27-AUTHORIZED-CURRICULUM-CONDITIONS
Information still needed
- Current official category match
- Exact item match in the official portal
- Required supporting documents
- Available account balance
Product description
Rocks and Dirt</em> is a hands-on, origins-neutral earth science curriculum for grades 5 and up that goes beyond basic “rocks and minerals.” It’s a fun, in-depth study of geology, soil science, and chemistry—with plenty of creative, edible, and interactive activities.<br><br><strong> This is a digital resource.</strong><br><br><h3>What’s Included:</h3><br><ul><li>Student Text (approx 150 pages): Clear explanations, colorful diagrams, puzzles, review pages, and self-checks.</li><li>Teacher Section (approx 150 pages): Lab instructions, project guides, game patterns, and craft templates.</li></ul><br><h3>Topics Covered:</h3><br><ul><li>Mineral identification and rock formation (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)</li><li>Rock chemistry (limestone, quartz), caves, coal, fossils, ocean floor</li><li>Earth's layers, crust structure, earthquakes, tectonic plates</li><li>Soil biology and chemistry</li><li>Radiometric dating and scientific inference</li></ul><br>Students learn to separate observed facts from theories and develop critical thinking skills. No rock kit required!<br><br><strong>Flexible Format:</strong> Finish in 8–9 weeks or stretch it over a semester. Perfect for a deep dive or a lighter-paced study.<br><br><strong>High School Credit:</strong> May count as ¼ credit for high school science—rich in geology, chemistry, and critical thinking. (Check with your state laws.)<br><br><strong>Origins-Neutral Approach:</strong> Presents scientific facts objectively, explaining both conventional and alternative viewpoints without faith-based content.
Source evidence
These fields describe where the listing came from. They do not establish funding eligibility.
- Catalog
- FESUA_DailySkillBuilding
- Source type
- Search
- Link status
- Stepup product link
- Enrichment confidence
- Unknown
Official policy source
Policy guidance is tied to this reviewed source and version.
- Publisher
- Step Up For Students
- Applies to
- FTC-PEP · 2026-27
- Effective dates
- Jul 1, 2026 — Jun 30, 2027
- Source last modified
- Jul 14, 2026
- Reviewed by Navigator
- Jul 23, 2026
- Review due
- Aug 14, 2026
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