Current Unit of Study~

Rocks and Minerals

Activities 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6

 

Activity 1~

Students will examine observe and record the physical characteristics of twenty-four samples of rocks and minerals. After, they will be able to differentiate between a rock and a mineral.

Activity 3~

Students will begin to classify minerals by examining their luster. Specifically, students will be able to describe a mineral's luster as metallic or nonmetallic.

Activity 4~

Another way to classify a mineral is by its hardness. Students will perform scratch tests on mineral samples to determine hardness. After, they will consult the Mohs Scale of Hardness to determine a mineral's hardness and to compare it to other minerals.

Activity 5~

Because weathering can distort a mineral's true color, students will conduct a streak test to reveal the actual color of each specimen.

Activity 6~

Students will perform a final test on their mineral samples. The acid test will determine if a sample contains calcium carbonate.  Specifically, students will place drops of vinegar on samples to see if bubbling occurs. Samples that bubble contain calcium carbonate.