Earth Materials Investigation 2 Scratch Test Part 1 – Observing Minerals

Science Safety Scientists follow safety procedures to protect themselves when performing observations and experiments They wear goggles to protect their eyes They used the tools carefully so that they do not harm themselves or others They do not put any scientific materials in their mouths Spills are cleaned up quickly using the correct procedure

Science Jobs Manager – this person will make sure that all members are on task Reporter – this person will report the results of their groups work, you may need to take notes Materials getter – this person will get materials Materials collector – this person will return materials

Content Review Rocks are made of different ingredients called minerals. Minerals are pure materials that can’t be separated into different kinds of ingredients.

Vocabulary Review After this review you will complete a matching sheet for vocabulary. weight – how heavy something is crystal – the solid form of a material that can be identified by its special shape or pattern property – something you can observe, such as color, shape, texture, living/non-living

Vocabulary Review dissolve – to disappear in a liquid. When salt mixes with water, it goes into solution and cannot be seen until the water dries up. earth material – a substance that comes from the earth depth – how thick an object is from top to bottom geologist – a person who studies the earth and the materials of which it is made.

Vocabulary Review diameter – the distance across a round object mineral – a basic earth material; a rock ingredient that cannot be broken down evaporate – to dry up rock – an earth material composed of different ingredients circumference – the distance around an object

Vocabulary Quiz Write the letter of the vocabulary word in the blank of the definition.

What We Will Learn Some rocks can be identified by using a scratch test.

What We Will Do Make and record observations of four different minerals. Use the properties of color, texture and shape to record our observations. Write detailed observations so that if the minerals were mixed up we would still be able to identify which number they were.

Materials Material Getters will get the trays with 4 sticky notes A FOSS tray Two hand lenses You will record your information in your Earth Materials Booklet. Your work in your Earth Materials Booklet will be graded, so do your best work.

Procedure Managers will number the sticky notes 1 through 4 and put one in each of the four compartments on the tray. The Manager will pick up a sample of mineral one. The Reporter will pick up a sample of mineral two. The Materials Getter will pick up a sample of mineral three. The Materials Collector will pick up a sample of mineral four.

Earth Materials Booklet Scratch Test – Page 8 Observe the minerals carefully. Draw or trace each mineral in your booklet. Use the hand lens to magnify the minerals. Write down your observations. The challenge is to describe the minerals so well that you could reassign them to their numbers if they were mixed up.

Share Observations Which of the properties (or combination of properties) is most useful in helping you identify a certain mineral? Is one property enough information to identify a mineral? Usually you need more than one property to describe a mineral so there is no question which one you mean.

Share Observations What if I gave you the clue “It’s a small mineral.” Would that be enough information to identify any sample of that mineral? A sample of a mineral can be any size; size is not determined by the type of mineral it is. Do you think you could identify each mineral on another group’s tray if you didn’t have the numbers to help?

Return Materials Put a sticky with your group’s names on it on your FOSS tray. Return the tray to the materials center.

Content/Inquiry What is a mineral? A basic earth material that cannot be broken down into smaller pieces. What is the difference between a rock and a mineral? Minerals are the ingredients that make up rocks.

Content/Inquiry If someone sent you a letter and said they needed your help to identify a mineral that they had found, and they told you it was about the size of their fist, would you be able to identify it? Size cannot be used as an identifying property; minerals (like rocks) come in all sizes. It is usuallly necessary to know several properties of a mineral to identify it.

Student Sheet – Mineral Properties We will go over Student Sheet No. 14 and then you will complete it for a grade.

Science Stories Read Science Stories “Treasure Underfoot” and “X Marks the Spot” after completing this part.