Name: ________________________
Date: ___________________________
Mrs. Yip-Chen
Minerals Unit Activity List
"How long could you live without your cell phone? Could you live without a car?
Minerals are used to make many things you use everyday: cars, cellphones, computers,
houses, pencils, sneakers, electrical applicances, and many more. But why are some
minerals used to make cars and other minerals used to create cosmetics? "
In this unit you will learn about mineral formation and properties, and how to identify
minerals.
Use the activity list below as a roadmap to understanding the concepts of the mineral unit.
You will find the materials you need for each activity on the resource table, learning centers in our
classroom, or on your teacher’s website.
(I=Individual, P=Paired, G=Group)
Required Activities: All students must complete the Required activities before the end of the unit.
Choice Activities: Choice activities provide additional resources to help you meet the criteria on the unit
rubric. You must complete at least one Choice activity in each section, unless you have prior mastery in
an area as demonstrated by a pre-test.
Optional Activities: The Optional learning activities listed below are suggested extension opportunities
for individuals who have specific interests that they would like to explore in greater depth.
Required Activities:
□ 1) Complete the Mineral Vocabulary Sheet using an online dictionary or textbook’s glossary.
(I) or (P) (10 minutes)
□ 2) Complete the Minerals on the ESRT worksheet. You will need an ESRT. (I) or (P)
(20 minutes)
□ 3) Complete the Minerals in Nutrition article summary. (I) or (P) (20 minutes)
□ 4) Complete the How Miners Can Survive Explosions article summary. (I) or (P) (20 minutes)
□ 5) Complete pyrite worksheet. (I) or (P) (5-10 minutes)
□ 6) Complete Minerals Concept Map worksheet. (I) or (P) (20 minutes)
□ 7) Complete Minerals worksheets packet. (I) or (P) (40 minutes)
□ 8) Complete Mining Notes. The links below may help. (I) or (P) (20 minutes) *Must be
completed at home.
http://www.trustingold.com/production/types-of-mines/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_mining
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-pit_mining
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00461/shaft.htm
Name: ________________________
Mrs. Yip-Chen
Date: ___________________________
□ 9) Complete Review Sheet for Minerals Quiz. (G) (20 minutes) [Pre-requisite – complete all
other required activities for this unit]
□ 10) Take your Minerals Quiz. (I) (30 minutes)
Choice Activities - You must complete at least one of the following:
□ 1) Complete Diamond-Studded Pipes article summary. (I) or (P) (10 minutes)
□ 2) View the Brain Pop video on Mineral Identification. And complete activity sheet associated
with the video. (I) or (P) (10 minutes) *Username: Rockland *Password: BOCES *Must be
completed at home.
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/mineralidentification/preview.weml
http://www.brainpop.com//science/earthsystem/mineralidentification/activity/
Optional Activities: (Extra Credit) Due Monday, Feb. 25th!
□ 1) Create a colored Publisher brochure OR a website that students can use to learn about
mineral properties and mineral identification tests. The brochure or website should also include
core unit vocabulary, how minerals form and the types of mines. (I) (90 minutes) (15 points)
□ 2) Make a chart that lists at least 10 mineral and their uses, also include at least 3 alloys. Hint:
Using the ESRT would be helpful. (I) (15 minutes) (5 points)
□ 3) Make flashcards from the information in the notes, vocabulary sheet or the review packet
for this unit. (I) (varies) (10 points)
□ 4) Completes Crystal Shape mobile or display board showing labeled 3-D models of Cubic,
Tetragonal, Orthorhombic, Hexagonal, Monoclinic, Triclinic, and Octahedral crystal shapes
along with images of minerals demonstrating those shapes. (I) or (P) (90 minutes) (20 points)
□ 5) Review your mineral knowledge by playing the games on the website below. Click on
ONLY the “Mineral Mix and Match” and “What is a Mineral? The Quiz!” links. (I) (10 minutes) (5
points)
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/minerals/games.htm