Hot Rocks! Rocks and Minerals Resources for the Classroom

When my older sister was in elementary school, each student was given a starter rock collection. The rocks were stored in plastic boxes, where each little compartment housed a rock specimen nestled in some cotton batting. I most liked the samples that contained quartz, which caught the light and sparkled. Unfortunately, by the time I started elementary school, the starter rock collection program had been discontinued. Bummer!

At some point in time, most kids will wonder what rocks are made of. Rocks consist of two or more minerals; one enterprising teacher I know compares rocks to chocolate chip cookies. The cookies are comprised of ingredients such as sugar, butter, eggs, flour, and chocolate chips; these ingredients are like minerals, which in turn make up the cookie (or rock). This analogy is a great way for students to visualize the structure of rocks, and can make a terrific hands-on activity as well. In turn, minerals are solid, inorganic substances that have a regular crystal structure. Minerals are not rocks, and unlike rocks, minerals are the same all the way through. Some common minerals include quartz, copper, and calcium.

Rocks have been used in building and construction projects for thousands of years. Marble, for example, has long been used as a medium for sculpture and monuments, while quartz is widely used in the manufacturing of glass, optical lenses, and electrical components. Minerals, too, serve a variety of purposes, and are used in many everyday products, such as toothpaste, computer components, pens, and cars. Minerals are also essential to animal and human diets, and include names that your students are sure to be familiar with, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and scores of others.

This week’s featured Gateway resources on rocks and minerals are for a variety of grade levels, and many more will be posted throughout the week on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Some of the lessons and activities offer differentiated activities for students who either require additional support or an extra challenge, and a good number are cross-curricular as well. Enjoy!

Baseball Rocks!
Subjects: Geology
Grade: 3
Through videoconferencing, two classes battle out their knowledge of rocks and minerals and the rock cycle by playing baseball. Each class completes a unit on rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle which includes gathering facts from print and non-print resources, classroom activities, and experiments. Each class then creates PowerPoint slides with questions (and answers) to pitch to the opposing team. The teams meet on the videoconference playing field to determine which class is the champion of rocks! The virtual baseball game serves as the culminating activity of a unit on rocks. This lesson was produced by the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), an education portal that provides lesson plans, best practices, and professional development activities.

What Earth Materials Are in My Subaru?
Subjects: Earth Science, Geology, Language Arts, Physical sciences
Grade: 5-9
This activity requires students to investigate the minerals that are used in the manufacturing of vehicles. This is a great way for students to learn just how pervasive minerals are in our everyday lives, and how important they are. This activity was produced by The Geological Society of America, and is correlated to the Common Core in the Gateway.

Minerals
Subjects: Geology, Geometry, Physical science
Grade: 9-12
The students will gain information on the 5 characteristics of minerals. The information can be related to nonrenewable resources. This lesson should facilitate discussion on the difference in precious gems and semi-precious gems. This lesson is a product of the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), and is also correlated to the Common Core in the Gateway.