Inquiry Lab -- Properties of Minerals

Summary

Students will identify properties that are useful and not useful to identify minerals and make predictions about how those properties might be useful.

Materials

• minerals from identification sets
• triple beam balance
• ruler
• hand lens
• streak plate
• glass plate
• student worksheet (attached)

Instructional Procedures

Minerals are a special category of matter. They are naturally made of specific atoms and molecules. The atoms that they are made of and the way the atoms are arranged give properties to the minerals.

Minerals, in turn, are the building blocks of rocks. Some minerals and rocks are used for different purposes, based on their properties.

You might brainstorm with the students some of the properties they might use in their data table. Be sure to leave some columns blank so they can find their own properties to use as headings.

Students can use other tools, like finger nails for hardness in the properties, but do not use official tests like field hardness yet.

Assessment Plan

Check for completeness and answers that show reasonable and logical thought.

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.