Lesson plan

Rock observation and testing

Summary
Appreciate the beauty and variation in rocks. Identify minerals in rocks and through mineral tests.
Science content
Earth/Space: Rock cycle, Earth Materials, Natural resources (5)
Procedure

Do a selection of the activities.

Explore a rock collection to notice the varied colours, patterns and textures in rocks and minerals.
Look very closely at granite to find the individual mineral grains in it.
Identify minerals with streak and hardness tests.
Break open geodes to find the mineral crystals inside.
If available, use a rock tumbler to initiate the (weeks long) process of polishing rocks. Tumbler and rough rocks available at Capilano Rock and Gem (see resource).

Notes

Wear mineral jewelry if possible. e.g. jade necklace, and show students rough jade to compare.

NYC after school programs did rock collection and geodes then sedimentary sand art.
Science clubs did granite minerals and mineral testing, then started rock tumbling, including amazonite.

Grades taught
Gr 1
Gr 2
Gr 3
Gr 4