K5 Science Endorsement GPS Lesson Plan

Title
Teacher(s)
E-mail
School
Lesson
Title
Grade
Level

Rocks and Minerals

Ayoola
Doyin.Ayoola@cobbk12.org
Blackwell Elementary
Rocks and Minerals Lesson 5

Concept Properties of Rocks and

Minerals
s(s)
Targeted
Lesson Essential Questions
First

What are the physical attributes of rocks?

Georgia Performance Standards S3P2. Students will

investigate the physical attributes of rocks and soils.
b. Recognize the physical attributes of rocks and minerals using observation
(shape, color, texture) measurement, and simple tests (hardness)

Safety Considerations: Be sure to keep rocks and minerals

away from computers or electronic devices. Do not put any
rocks or minerals into your mouth.
The Learning Plan:
Engage: Show a piece of talc and corundum to each team or small group in class.
Let students try to scratch talc vs. corundum with a fingernail, nail, and another
rock. Ask students to take notes on what happened during scratch test. Have
students draw a picture of before and after of each of the two minerals. Ask, what
did you notice? What did you observe?
Explore: Students in pairs will perform scratch tests on mineral samples to
determine if their sample is hard or soft. They will arrange their 10 mineral samples
from softest to hardest after performing scratch tests using pennies, fingernails,
nails, other rocks, etc. and recording it on a chart.

Explain: Display Moh's hardness scale and the minerals that correlate to various
points in the scale. Explain to students that the scratch tests they performed show
that the easier to scratch a mineral the softer it is and the harder to scratch a
mineral the harder it is. Teach and explain to students how to use the Moh's scale to
determine the hardness of a mineral. Ask questions such as what is the hardest and
softest mineral on Moh's scale? What mineral can or can't scratch __________?
Extend: Give students the minerals halite and quartz. Have them use fingernails,
nail,penny,rocks to scratch both minerals. Have them use one mineral to scratch the
other. Ask students which one was harder? Which was softer?Ask students how they
knew which one was harder or softer and record the findings/observations of the
scratch tests in their science journals and recording charts.
Evaluate: After learning all of the physical attributes used to describe a mineral,
students can finish creating their bubble map or diagram of their choosing that
depicts their chosen mineral and all of its attributes including hardness. Put the
mineral diagrams in a slide show presentation and have students present and
discuss their mineral and describe it using the attributes we have learned describe
minerals. Use a rubric to grade the students on their diagram and presentation
(Technology integration/Summative Assessment).

Title of the Lesson:

Lesson Logistics/Materials: Students will work independently
Materials needed: recording sheet, copies of Moh's scale, samples of
rocks and minerals, scratch test materials (nails, toothpick, etc)
Opening/Hook/Initial Focus:
Show a piece of talc and corundum to each team or small group in class. Let
students try to scratch talc vs. corundum with a fingernail, nail, and another rock.
Ask students to take notes on what happened during scratch test. Have students
draw a picture of before and after of each of the two minerals. Ask, what did you
notice? What did you observe?

Work Session:
Students in pairs will perform scratch tests on mineral samples to determine if their
sample is hard or soft. They will arrange their 10 mineral samples from softest to
hardest after performing scratch tests using pennies, fingernails, nails, other rocks,
etc. and recording it on a chart.
Explain: Display Moh's hardness scale and the minerals that correlate to various
points in the scale. Explain to students that the scratch tests they performed show
that the easier to scratch a mineral the softer it is and the harder to scratch a
mineral the harder it is. Teach and explain to students how to use the Moh's scale to
determine the hardness of a mineral. Ask questions such as what is the hardest and
softest mineral on Moh's scale? What mineral can or can't scratch __________?

Extend: Give students the minerals halite and quartz. Have them use
fingernails, nail,penny,rocks to scratch both minerals. Have them use one
mineral to scratch the other. Ask students which one was harder? Which was
softer?Ask students how they knew which one was harder or softer and
record the findings/observations of the scratch tests in their science journals
and recording charts.
Closing: After creating their individual bubble maps on the
computer, the class could have a slide show of all the different
minerals and the characteristics that describe them. Each student
could present about their particular mineral. Use a rubric to grade
the students on their diagram and presentation.