Activity 3:  Minerals (GLEs:  1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 17, 18, 19, 62)

Teacher Note: A sample Louisiana mineral kit can be obtained through the Department of Natural Resources. Keep this kit for display purposes.

CC:  The students will learn to describe five properties of minerals that will help them later in rock identification activities. Using an observation table the students will observe mineral samples labeled with letters of the alphabet, for example sample A. The teacher will explain what luster and texture mean and supply or generate from the students' descriptive words that exemplify each term. (Metallic, dull, shiny, rough faces, smooth faces,)

The students will observe color, luster, and texture for a number of samples. The teacher should explain that the way in which a mineral's crystals are formed determines how the mineral will break, or how its surfaces and edges will appear. Discuss the observations and have each group discuss the likenesses and differences. Cooperatively create a Venn Diagram of the samples based on the given characteristics. Since some minerals share similar characteristics, there must be other properties that can be observed.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

http://dnr.louisiana.gov

Venn Diagram Template