Name __________________________________________ Period ________ Score                  /200 

Unit 5: Rock and Mineral Identification

Lauren Ard
Santa Clara High School
Tucson, Arizona

Instructions: Below are the activities you can choose from to earn points for this unit. Start with the C activities. These will help you learn the basics of the unit. Activities in bold are required for every student. After you have enough points in the C section, move on to section B and then A for more challenging activities. Here's how to get the grade you want: 

F: 0 – 120 C Points

D: 121 – 140 C Points

C: 141 – 160 C Points

B: 160 C Points and 5 – 20 B Points

A: 160 C Points, 20 B Points, and 5 – 20 A Points 

When you are finished with an activity, you must sit down and discuss what you've learned with Mrs. Ard. You may not turn in more than two activities on the last day of the unit. 

C Activities 

Description	# of Periods	Points	Score
Take Cornell Notes on the entire unit.	-	10
Read “Crystals, Minerals and Rocks” on pages 89-90 in the soft cover Earth History book and fill out the worksheet I have made to go with the article. (You will read about what crystals, minerals, and rocks are.)	0.5	15
Do the “Uses of Rock and Minerals” worksheet with the rest of the class on December 10. (You will explore how different minerals and rocks are used.)	1	20
Complete your Science Fair Project Test at home. You need a ten-page journal (20 points), your recorded data with at least 40 trials (10 points), and some drawings or pictures (10 points).	at home	40
Do the “Mineral Crystals” activity. (You will learn about the different shapes that crystals have and draw pictures of the shapes.)	0.5	8
Do the “Fluorescent Minerals” activity. (You will look at fluorescent minerals under a black light and see what cool colors they glow.)	0.5	10
Do the “Mineral Streak” Activity. (You will learn about how different minerals have different colors of streak.)	0.5	10
Do the “Fossil Identification” activity. (You will learn about the five different types of fossils and how to identify them.)	0.5	10
Read an AR book about Rocks and Minerals. They can be found on Mrs. Ard’s desk. You CANNOT check them out – they must stay in my room! If you score a 100% you get 15 points. If you score 80-99% you get 10 points. If you score below 80%, you get 0 points.	1	10-15
Read the “Mining” article and answer the questions on the “Mining Article” worksheet. (You will learn about mining and its effects on the environment.)	1	20
Do the “Classifying Sediments” Activity. (You will learn how scientists classify different types of sediments like sand.)	1	20
Do the “Sedimentary Rocks” activity. (You will learn how scientists classify sedimentary rocks.)	1	20
Do the “Igneous Rocks” activity. (You will learn how scientists classify igneous rocks.)	1	20
Do the “Metamorphic Rocks” activity. (You will learn how scientists classify metamorphic rocks.)	1	20
Read F8 – F12 in the hardcover Earth Materials and Processes book and answer questions 1-5 on page F12. Then read F14-F18 and answer questions 1-5 on page F18. There is a worksheet on the back counter for you to write your answers on.	1	20
Read F19 – F25 in the hardcover Earth Materials and Processes book and answer questions 1-5 on page F25. Then read F83-F87 and answer questions 1-5 on page F87. There is a worksheet on the back counter for you to write your answers on.	1	20
Do the “Mineral Hardness” activity. (You will learn how to test minerals to see how hard they are.)	1	30
Do the “Crystal Growing” activity. (You will grow a crystal garden and observe the properties of the different types of crystals.	2	30

 
 
 

B Activities 

Description	# of Periods	Points	Score
Find a rock from home, or one in the classroom that you think is neat. Have Mrs. Ard help you identify it. Use the internet to research your rock and find some interesting facts. Be sure to write them in your own words. You will get one point for each fact up to 20 points.	-	1-20
Do the “Fast Crystal Growing” activity. (You will watch a crystal growing before your eyes under a microscope.)	0.5	10
Do the “Crystal Shapes” activity. (You will learn about the different shapes that minerals crystals take and build paper models of those crystals.)	1	20

 
 
 
 

A Activities 

Description	# of Periods	Points	Score
Do the “Mineral Tenacity” activity. (You will learn how different minerals react to pushing, pulling, and mashing.)	1	10
Search for “minerals and health” using google.com and write down some facts about what minerals are important to a person’s health and why they are important. Be sure to write them in your own words. You will get one point for each fact up to 20 points.	-	1-20
Make a list of minerals and rocks that are used at school. They can be in your school supplies, in the construction of the building, or anything else you can think of that is currently in the school. You will get one point for each rock or mineral up to 20 points.	-	1-20

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