Rocks & Minerals for Schools
Real geological specimens for Canadian science classrooms — sorted by Mohs hardness, organised around the rock cycle, and mapped to the Ontario curriculum. Stonebridge Imports has supplied teachers, school boards, museums and STEM programs from our Kitchener, Ontario warehouse for over 20 years.
Earth science comes alive when students can actually hold the material they're studying. A photo of quartz in a textbook is abstract; a real quartz point that scratches a glass plate — but can't scratch a sapphire — is a memory that sticks. Everything on this page is a genuine specimen we stock and ship in classroom quantities, from single teaching pieces to 1 kg bulk bags for a whole cohort.
Below: a Mohs hardness reference set covering hardness 2 through 9 with real product, a rock cycle collection with igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic specimens, an honest Ontario curriculum map, and two free lesson plans you can run tomorrow.
The Mohs Hardness Scale
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness, devised by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812, ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) by which mineral can scratch another. It is the single most teachable mineral property: students test specimens with a fingernail, a copper coin, a steel nail and a glass plate, then order their samples from softest to hardest using nothing but evidence.
Build a hardness kit — hardness 2 to 9, all currently in stock
Mohs 2Selenite (Gypsum)BOSEL12$29.00
Mohs 3Honey CalciteRSCKCAH0$15.00
Mohs 5–5.5Lapis Lazuli ChunkRSCKLALA0$30.00
Mohs 6–6.5Labradorite (Feldspar)RSCKLAB0$15.00
Mohs 7Clear Quartz ClusterCLCRMA03$9.00
Mohs 8Spinel on MarbleRSSPML1$12.00
Mohs 8.5Alexandrite (Chrysoberyl)RSCHALEA1$29.00
Mohs 9Sapphire Crystal (Corundum)RSCRSAP03$20.00
Why the hard end matters. Most school rock kits stop at quartz (7), which means students never test anything a steel file can't mark. Adding a spinel (8), chrysoberyl (8.5) and sapphire (9) lets a class work the whole scale — and the Spinel on Marble specimen is our favourite teaching piece on this page, because it puts Mohs 8 crystals inside a Mohs 3 marble matrix. One rock, two hardnesses, one very memorable scratch test.
Full specimen reference table
| Specimen | Mineral / composition | Mohs | Classroom form | SKU | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selenite | Gypsum — hydrous calcium sulfate | 2 | Bowls, chips, desert-rose clusters | BOSEL12 | $29 |
| Honey Calcite | Calcium carbonate | 3 | Translucent rough chunks; fizzes in weak acid | RSCKCAH0 | $15 |
| Celestite | Strontium sulfate | 3–3.5 | Geodes with sky-blue crystals | GEOCEL1 | $32 |
| Fluorite | Calcium fluoride | 4 | Rough natural chips; perfect cleavage in 4 directions | RSCHFLPGxs | $32 |
| Lapis Lazuli | Lazurite-rich metamorphic rock | 5–5.5 | Deep-blue rough chunks | RSCKLALA0 | $30 |
| Obsidian | Volcanic glass (silica) | 5–5.5 | Knapped arrowheads, 10-pack | CAAHOBBx10 | $19 |
| Sodalite | Sodium alumino-silicate | 5.5–6 | Bulk 1 kg chip bag | RSCHSO1md | $28 |
| Labradorite | Plagioclase feldspar | 6–6.5 | Rough chunks with blue flash | RSCKLAB0 | $15 |
| Agate | Chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz) | 6.5–7 | Banded slices — natural & dyed | SLAGA1na | $5.70 |
| Red Jasper | Microcrystalline quartz (chert) | 6.5–7 | Bulk crushed chips | RSCHJARmi | $25 |
| Garnet (Almandine) | Iron-aluminium silicate | 6.5–7.5 | Natural prismatic crystals | RSCRGARP03 | $12 |
| Clear Quartz | Silicon dioxide | 7 | Natural clusters & points | CLCRMA03 | $9 |
| Amethyst | Silicon dioxide (purple quartz) | 7 | Tumbled stones by the bag | TSAMEAxl | $54 |
| Rose Quartz | Silicon dioxide (pink quartz) | 7 | Tumbled stones by the bag | TSRQAsm | $40 |
| Citrine | Silicon dioxide (golden quartz) | 7 | Free-form tumbled, ½ lb | TSCITAFFxs | $25 |
| Tiger Eye | Silicified quartz (chatoyant) | 7 | Tumbled stones | TSTERmd | $50 |
| Aquamarine | Beryl | 7.5–8 | Rough natural chunk | RSCKAQ1 | $50 |
| Emerald | Beryl (same species as aquamarine) | 7.5–8 | Tumbled, natural Brazilian | TSEMEAhfsm | $68 |
| Spinel on Marble | Magnesium aluminate in marble | 8 | Crystals in white matrix — two hardnesses in one rock | RSSPML1 | $12 |
| Imperial Topaz | Aluminium silicate fluoride | 8 | Natural Brazilian rough | RSCRIMTOA1 | $50 |
| Alexandrite / Chrysoberyl | Beryllium aluminium oxide | 8.5 | Natural rough, 2–8 mm — hand-lens specimen | RSCHALEA1 | $29 |
| Sapphire (Corundum) | Aluminium oxide | 9 | Natural rough crystal, 3–4.9 g | RSCRSAP03 | $20 |
| Ruby in Zoisite | Corundum in zoisite matrix | 9 / 6.5 | Tumbled — red ruby in green zoisite | TSRUZ2hflg | $47 |
Prices are indicative single-unit retail in CAD and change with our sale cycles; wholesale school pricing is lower and available once your wholesale application is approved. Sizes, colours and origins vary by lot — these are natural materials, not manufactured parts. Dyed or enhanced items are labelled as such on their product pages; for hardness testing, always choose the natural option. Stock rotates, so if a specimen is unavailable just ask and we'll suggest the closest match on the scale.
The Rock Cycle Collection
The rock cycle is how Earth continuously recycles its crust. Molten rock cools into igneous rock; weathering and deposition build sedimentary rock; heat and pressure transform either into metamorphic rock; and melting returns it all to magma. There is no starting point and no finish line — which is exactly why it's a cycle. Put one specimen from each family in students' hands and the textbook diagram becomes something they can sort.
Cooled from molten rock
Formed when magma or lava cools and crystallises. Fast cooling at the surface leaves glassy, crystal-free rock; slow cooling underground grows large interlocking crystals.
- Obsidian — lava cooled so fast it became natural glass, with no crystals at all. The clearest specimen in the whole kit for showing what "cooling rate" means.
- Labradorite — a feldspar that crystallised slowly enough to grow large, flashing crystal faces.
- Sodalite — a feldspathoid from silica-poor magmas.
Built from sediment & solution
Formed when weathered fragments, or minerals dissolved in water, settle and harden in layers. This is the family where fossils are found.
- Calcite / limestone — fizzes visibly with a drop of vinegar. The most satisfying two-second test in earth science.
- Agate — banded silica that fills a cavity layer by layer.
- Red jasper — a silica-rich chert precipitated from solution; iron oxide gives the red.
Transformed by heat & pressure
Formed when existing rock is re-cooked deep in the crust, recrystallising into new minerals and textures without fully melting.
- Garnet — the classic index mineral of schist, grown inside the rock itself.
- Lapis lazuli — limestone altered by contact with magma.
- Ruby in zoisite — corundum grown in a metamorphic host; two hardnesses in one stone.
Rock cycle specimens — one from each family
IgneousObsidian ArrowheadsCAAHOBBx10 · 10-pack$19.00
IgneousLabradorite ChunkRSCKLAB0$15.00
SedimentaryAgate Slices (banded)SLAGA1na$5.70
SedimentaryHoney Calcite (fizz test)RSCKCAH0$15.00
MetamorphicGarnet CrystalsRSCRGARP03$12.00
MetamorphicRuby in ZoisiteTSRUZ2hflg$47.00
Textbook classics worth comparing alongside these: granite, basalt, pumice (igneous) · sandstone, limestone, shale (sedimentary) · marble, slate, gneiss, quartzite (metamorphic).
Two Free Lesson Plans
Written for Canadian classrooms and free to use, copy and photocopy — no email signup, no account. Each includes learning goals and success criteria, a full materials list, safety notes, a timed minds-on / action / consolidation sequence, a printable student recording sheet, a teacher answer key, assessment suggestions and differentiation ideas.
Testing Mineral Hardness: The Mohs Scale
60–75 minutes · pairs or groups of 3
- Students predict, then scratch-test, then re-rank using evidence
- Printable data table + mineral-vs-mineral comparison grid
- Answer key with expected results for every specimen
- Directly delivers Ontario Grade 4 E2.3
Modelling the Rock Cycle
70–90 minutes · groups of 3–4
- Sort real specimens into the three families from evidence alone
- Wax crayon model: sediment → pressure → heat → melt → repeat
- Includes the critical "where the model breaks down" discussion
- Directly delivers Ontario Grade 4 E2.1
Both pages are formatted for printing — use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a clean, classroom-ready handout.
Where Rocks & Minerals Sit in the Ontario Curriculum
We checked this against the Ministry's own curriculum documents rather than repeating what other supplier sites claim — and the honest answer is narrower than most pages will tell you. In the Ontario Science and Technology, Grades 1–8 (2022) curriculum, rocks and minerals appear as a named topic in exactly one grade: Grade 4.
A correction worth making. Many lesson banks and supplier pages advertise a "Grade 7 Earth's Crust" unit for Ontario. That unit is Manitoba's (Grade 7, Cluster 4). Ontario's Grade 7 Earth and Space Systems strand is Heat in the Environment and contains no geology at all. If you teach Grade 7 in Ontario, rocks and minerals are enrichment — not curriculum.
| Grade | Strand & topic | What students do | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | Strand E — Soils in the Environment | E2.1 the non-living component of soil (weathered rock and mineral particles) and E2.4 the process of erosion. | Lead-in. Builds the prior knowledge Grade 4 assumes. |
| Grade 4 ⭐ | Strand E — Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes | E2.1 explain how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks form, using the rock cycle · E2.2 describe their physical properties · E2.3 classify rocks and minerals using various tests and criteria · E2.4 everyday uses · E2.5 fossils · E2.6 First Nations, Métis and Inuit geological knowledges. | The core unit. A specimen kit does the heaviest lifting here. |
| Grade 12 (SES4U) | Earth and Space Science — Strand E, Earth Materials (Grades 11–12 Science, 2008) | E2.3 conduct a series of tests (hardness, streak, density) to identify and classify common minerals · E2.4–E2.6 classify igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks with a hand lens · E2.7 investigate a local geological setting. | Deep dive. The curriculum names the exact tests our kits support. |
| Grade 2 | Strand C — Properties of Liquids and Solids | C2.1–C2.2 identify and describe the properties of solids; C2.6 sort by ability to absorb or repel water. | Manipulative only. Grade 2 does not name rocks or minerals. |
Ontario Grade 9 (SNC1W) has no rocks-and-minerals expectations either — its Earth and Space strand is Space Exploration. Mineral specimens can serve as an optional real-world context for the C1.1 product-life-cycle work, but that's a teacher's choice, not curriculum coverage. Note also that SES4U comes from the 2008 Grades 11–12 Science document, not the 2022 revision. Curriculum references verified September 2026 against the Ontario Curriculum: Science and Technology, Grades 1–8 (2022) and Grades 11–12: Science (2008).
On Grade 4 E2.6 — Indigenous geological knowledges. This expectation is new in 2022 and it's the one teachers most often ask us about. We deliberately don't supply content for it: we're a mineral supplier, not an authority on Indigenous knowledge, and generic claims about "what Indigenous peoples used this stone for" do more harm than good. For E2.6, work with Indigenous-authored resources and your board's Indigenous education lead. Our kits cover E2.1–E2.4 well; we'd rather say so plainly than oversell.
What Educators and Buyers Say
Stonebridge has a 4.8-star rating across more than 4,700 reviews on Shopper Approved. These are the ones most relevant if you're buying for a classroom.
"I purchase rock and mineral samples to give to the children I teach. The samples I received were bigger than I expected and more plentiful than I expected. My rock hounds will be excited to receive them. They were also packaged well to ensure safe delivery. Excellent products at great prices."
"Thanks for having such a variety of raw rocks and minerals. I use these specimens as give-a-ways for education and outreach to children of all ages."
"We are always impressed with the quality of the specimens and the professional manner of the personnel. Our order shipped extremely quickly and arrived in perfect condition with environmentally friendly packaging."
"Excellent!! I have never dealt with a supplier that offers the best customer service with very knowledgeable staff. Stonebridge Imports are Simply The Best!!"
"Excellent knowledge shared joyfully. Top quality products. Best prices."
"I am new to this industry and still figuring things out… Their customer service team is responsive, patient, and genuinely helpful. I needed to make a couple of adjustments to my order, and their return/exchange process was absolutely worry-free. Instead of feeling stressed or embarrassed about being new, I felt supported and taken care of."
Why Schools Buy From Stonebridge Imports
🍁 Canadian supplier
Packed and shipped from our 7,000 sq ft Kitchener, Ontario warehouse. 2–5 business days, no cross-border customs delays or surprise duties for your board.
📦 No minimum order
Order a single teaching specimen or a 1 kg bulk chip bag. Free shipping over $300 CAD.
🔬 Authentic specimens
Real, natural rocks and minerals so hardness and streak tests behave as the textbook predicts. Dyed and enhanced items are labelled as such.
🧾 Easy procurement
Wholesale accounts approved in under a business day, plus 365 days to exchange anything that doesn't fit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you sell rocks and minerals in bulk for schools?
Yes. Stonebridge Imports is a Canadian wholesaler supplying teachers, schools, school boards, museums and STEM programs. There is no minimum order, so you can buy a single teaching specimen or bulk quantities such as 1 kg chip bags and cluster boxes. Apply for a wholesale account to unlock bulk pricing.
What is the Mohs hardness scale and how do I teach it?
The Mohs scale ranks mineral hardness from 1 (talc, softest) to 10 (diamond, hardest) by scratch resistance. Students test specimens with a fingernail (≈2.5), a copper coin (≈3.5), a steel nail (≈4.5) and a glass plate (≈5.5), then order their samples from softest to hardest. Our free Mohs hardness lesson plan gives you the full sequence, a student recording sheet and an answer key.
Which grade studies rocks and minerals in Ontario?
Grade 4. In the Ontario Science and Technology curriculum (2022), rocks and minerals are a named topic in exactly one grade: Grade 4, Strand E — "Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes". Grade 3's Soils in the Environment strand is the lead-in, and Grade 12's SES4U course is the senior deep dive. Ontario's Grade 7 Earth and Space Systems strand is Heat in the Environment and contains no geology — the "Grade 7 Earth's Crust" unit widely posted online is Manitoba's curriculum, not Ontario's.
Can you build a custom classroom kit?
Yes. Tell us your grade, unit and student count and we'll assemble a labelled kit — a Mohs hardness set spanning 2 to 9, or a rock-cycle set with igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic examples. Start by applying for wholesale and mention "school kit" in your notes.
Are the lesson plans really free?
Completely. No email signup, no account, no purchase required. Both the Mohs hardness and rock cycle plans are free to read, print and photocopy for classroom use.
Do you ship across Canada?
Yes — we ship Canada-wide from our Kitchener, Ontario warehouse, typically in 2–5 business days, with free shipping on orders over $300 CAD.
Ready to stock your science classroom?
Apply for a Stonebridge wholesale account to access bulk school pricing on every specimen on this page. Applications take about two minutes and are usually approved within one business day.
Apply for Wholesale Pricing →Questions first? Contact our team and mention you're an educator.