Learners apply rules to compare and rank the hardness and softness of minerals. They perform a scratch test on four unknown mineral samples, read a bar graph that illustrates the comparative hardness and softness of four named minerals,...

Learners grow salt crystals by making a saturated solution of table salt and let the solution sit around and evaporate.

Students explore the function of bone, muscle, and skin. Pasta and rubber bands are used to model how minerals and collagen contribute to bone strength. The effects of the reduction of these substances are explored in chicken bones.

Students explore the effects of diet and weight-bearing activities on bone mineral content. The influence of playing a variety of sports with different weight-loading levels is examined.

Students classify rocks and minerals according to their characteristics, after finding the similarities and differences of school supplies and pasta.

Students learn and practice identifying Earth's minerals and their properties. Working in small groups, they evaluate minerals. This is a well-described lesson plan, which students enjoy.

Ninth graders investigate mineral contents in lunar rocks.  In this lunar rock lesson students identify simulated lunar rocks based on mineral content. 

Fourth graders discover how to cook rice. In this cooking lesson, 4th graders discover how to cook rice correctly. Students read and follow cooking directions and discuss how their rice turned out.

In this earth science worksheet, students identify various minerals as described in the fifteen questions. They identify the luster and hardness of a mineral. Then, students identify what color the mineral is and whether it has streaks...

Fourth graders identify rocks in this discovery lesson by examining rock characteristics and processes. They identify basic properties of minerals and rocks. They revise their theories of the natural world, once they see and learn new...

Students identify and interpret various minerals and discover how to identify and classify them. They identify and discuss how people describe objects and how scientists describe objects. From there, students look at a set of common...

Fourth graders brainstorm the differences between the fossil fuels that people use in their transportation now and what they could use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. They use a variety of techniques from webquests to writing...

Learners discuss rocks and other earth materials made up of minerals. They identify minerals by means of their more obvious physical properties such as hardness, luster, color, streak, cleavage and fracture. They arrange a given set of...

Twelfth graders use this game to find minerals given rocks and outcrops in a plausible (but not real) geologic setting. They play without outside encouragement for hours as the world is fun to explore and the scoring system encourages...

Students examine how a variety of minerals are used in make-up. They discuss the minerals that are found in things like make-up, soap, shampoo, and toothpaste and determine where the minerals come from.

Young scholars study how mineral are used in everything around us-- from cereal to satellites. After informing the students about minerals they will discuss the ones that are in the area of the young scholars.

Learners identify minerals from its physical properties accomplished through observation and testing of the minerals involved. They divide into groups and perform the physical property tests listed on the Mineral Background sheet.

Learners study ways in which to identify rocks. They complete a number of activities that introduce them to various ways of identifying minerals in rocks.

Students perform simple field tests on a variety of minerals and use their results and a given data chart to determine which mineral each specimen is.

Third graders view a clip of the video Backyard Safari, "Rocks and Minerals," and discuss properties of rocks and minerals. They view and discuss a clip on where rocks and minerals are found.

Fourth graders identify basic properties of minerals and rocks. They access websites and utilize worksheets imbedded in this instructional activity to further their understanding of rock classification.

For this rocks worksheet, students review the different types and characteristics of igneous rocks. This worksheet has 2 fill in the blank, 14 short answer questions, and 1 problem to solve.

In this science worksheet, students make and fill out two rock and mineral cards for their science class. Students put a fact about rocks and minerals on each one.

Fourth graders review the types of rocks and minerals they see in photographs. Individually, they are shown a sample of rocks or minerals and classify them based on their characteristics. They give their observations to another...