In this unit, students will learn about the properties of rocks and minerals. Students will explore size, shape, texture, and more as they deconstruct mock rocks to discover what they are made out of! Students will use various tools to try scratching minerals to discover their relative hardness. Rocks will be tested for the presence of calcite which reacts in a surprising way. This unit will stretch over seven weeks. A notice will be sent home near the end of the unit indicating the day for sharing projects done at home. Students will create an Earth Materials Notebook where they will record their findings from each investigation. At the end of the unit students will be amazed at how much they have learned as they complete the final post assessment questions.
Family Activities:
Start a rock collection. The uniqueness of each rock makes them fun to collect and compare. Talk as a family about what makes each rock unique. Is it the size? Maybe the shape is unusual? Did you find it in a special place? Is it made from a material you recognize? Students will have an opportunity to bring in their collections to share their fun finds with their classmates.
What is your birthstone? Research your birthstone. What is the history behind it? Does it have a special meaning? Are there any myths or legends about it? Write up your findings to share with classmates.
Welcome to our Earth Materials Unit!
In this unit, students will learn about the properties of rocks and minerals. Students will explore size, shape, texture, and more as they deconstruct mock rocks to discover what they are made out of! Students will use various tools to try scratching minerals to discover their relative hardness. Rocks will be tested for the presence of calcite which reacts in a surprising way. This unit will stretch over seven weeks. A notice will be sent home near the end of the unit indicating the day for sharing projects done at home. Students will create an Earth Materials Notebook where they will record their findings from each investigation. At the end of the unit students will be amazed at how much they have learned as they complete the final post assessment questions.
Family Activities:
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