Rocks and Minerals

In this worksheet, students will take everyday objects from the classroom and use balance scales to find the mass.  The students will first describe the object and then estimate the mass.  They will then weigh the object and write down that actual mass.  Finally, they will find the difference between the actual mass and the estimated mass.  Once students are finished they will sort the mass from lightest to heaviest.  The main purpose of this assignment is to have students make estimates and then use actual scales to find the mass.

In this 4 day lab, students will become very familiar with the procedures involved in identifying minerals.

Day 1: Students will learn what streak, cleavage, and luster are.

This image was designed to demonstrate how sandstone ends up as gneiss, a metamorphic rock.  It follows the sequences of: sandstone, quartzite, shale, slate, phylite, schist, and gneiss.

In this assignment, students will open up a Google Doc, you can have it printed as well, and fill out a table of some very useful industrial ores. The ores that will be researched are diamonds, gold, rock salt, bauxite, iron, and titanium. Students will research which 3 countries in the world are the top producers of each ore. They will then find and write 2 or more industrial uses for each ore. As they are doing their research, students will also use a map and mark where these countries are. This is great to reinforce the geography standards.

In this assignment, students will open up a Google Doc, you can have it printed as well, and fill out a table of some very useful industrial ores. The ores that will be researched are diamonds, gold, rock salt, bauxite, iron, and titanium. Students will research which 3 countries in the world are the top producers of each ore. They will then find and write 2 or more industrial uses for each ore. As they are doing their research, students will also use a map and mark where these countries are. This is great to reinforce the geography standards.

This is an animated video discussing the age of the earth.  It discusses uranium and zirconium dating methods.  Part of the video also talks about how geologists use relative age dating.
 

Here is a fun poem created to show all of the elements on the periodic table.  Much of the poem demonstrates where the different names came from and why they got their names.
 

Get ready for a journey to the Earth's core with this fascinating found on EducationalResource.org. This video explores the groundbreaking discoveries made by scientists when drilling the deepest bore hole on Earth. Through clear explanations and stunning visuals, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the methods used to dig so deep and the remarkable discoveries that were made along the way. This video is a great tool for educators looking to supplement lessons on geology and the Earth's interior.

This video discusses metal and its relationship with heat and fire.  The video demonstrates the oxidation of metal.  Steal wool gets ignited.  The periodic table is discussed in regards to how common metals are.

Here is a great introduction to rocks and minerals.  There is an experiment for creating rock candy as well.  The video has many visuals demonstrating both rocks and minerals.