Minerals
3rd Grade
Tori Suhs
2/27/2014
Mineral Lesson
Grade: 3rd
Subject: Science
Duration: 1 hour
Model Academic Science Standards:
E.4.1 Investigate that earth materials are composed of rocks and soils and correctly use the
vocabulary for rocks, minerals, and soils during these investigations
E.4.2 Show that earth materials have different physical and chemical properties, including the
properties of soils found in Wisconsin
E.4.7 Using the science themes, describe resources used in the home, community, and nation as a
whole
Vocabulary:
Minerals-building blocks of rocks and are made up of crystals and found in rocks, water, and soil
Color- some minerals can be found in different colors. For example, the mineral quartz can be pink,
purple, yellow, brown, white, or black.
Luster- this shows how minerals reflect light. Minerals can be metallic, pearly, silky, greasy, glassy, or
dull
Streak- When you rub a mineral across a rough surface, it may leave a streak mark or powder.
Hardness- some minerals are so soft you can scratch them with a fingernail. The hardest mineral is a
diamond and can only be scratched by another diamond.
Mohs scale- this is a scale to test hardness. It is a scale from 1-10, 1 being the softest. For example, a
diamond is 10.
Materials:
Paper, pencil, markers, notebook
Student Learning Objectives: Students will:



Be able to define what a mineral is
Be able to identify the properties of minerals
Explain daily uses for minerals
Procedure:
Play video and stop at key points for students to take notes. Takes notes with them on
visualizer.
What is a mineral?
Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. They are found in rocks, water, and soil.
Minerals are usually solid crystals.
What are the uses for minerals?
Minerals are found in many of the things people use every day.
Almost all foods we eat contain minerals.
Fluorite is in toothpaste.
The mineral halite is known as table salt.
How can you tell minerals apart?
You can tell minerals apart by the properties.
Properties of Minerals:
Show Video http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0078778026/164213/00044674.html
Students will make and fill out a step/flap book with directions given by the teacher. The front
will be titled Minerals and their Properties. Each “step” will have a property written on it. When
you open the “flap” that corresponds with the property, the students may fill out the definition
and other important notes. Attached is an example.
The following properties and their definitions will be recorded on their step book.
-Color, Mohs Scale and hardness, luster, and streak
The final “step” will be labeled Everyday Uses.
Everyday Uses will include: fluorite is found in toothpaste, halite is table salt, stainless steel is what our
spoons and forks are made out of, quartz is used to make the glass for drinking glasses
Students will have a chance to look at the minerals in the boxes to get familiar with them before our
mineral lab next week if time allows.
Homework: Practice Worksheet: Lesson 2 Review on Minerals-Students may be given time to work on
this in class
Enrichment: Practice Sheet: What are Minerals?
This sheet will take what the students have learned in class to agree/disagree statements. They will then
correct the statements if they are incorrect.
Accommodations: Students will be able to receive the notes we take in class typed for them or
additional time to copy them in their notebook. The step/flap books will also be made ahead of time for
those who need it.
Assessment: Students will be assessed through lecture and discussion. The step book will be examined
to see if the students took notes and followed directions. They will also be assessed through the
homework review sheet on minerals.
This is the flip book the students will be
making in class. When the flaps open there
will be information on each property.