Rocks and Minerals
Lesson 7
Describing the Color of Minerals
Students explore minerals to learn more about their properties by performing the streak test and recording their results.
3. Lesson set up and Management
INQD: Simple instruments, such as magnifiers, thermometers, and rulers provide more information than scientists can obtain using only their unaided senses.
PS2A: Objects have properties, including size, weight, hardness, color, shape, texture, and magnetism. Unknown substances can sometimes be identified by their properties.
PS2B: An object may be made from different materials. These materials give the object certain properties.
- Students concentrate on the property of color as they observe "observable color" (what their eyes see) and "identifying color" (what the streak test shows).
Streak test - What is the streak color left by each mineral sample?
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
- Make sure the streak plates are clean before beginning the lesson. Use soapy water or a mild abrasive like tile cleaner or baking soda to clean them.
Student Management:
- Assign one partner to be the materials manager and have that student pick up the materials from the materials center after you model how to do it.
- Use the Mineral Profile Transparency to mark a symbol on the area students should use for recording. As the lessons progress, mark each new area with another symbol to help them keep track.
Writing Support:
- Students will record their observations on their Mineral Profile sheets.
- Students record three important pieces of information about hematite and graphite in their science notebook.
Streak test - What is the streak color left by each mineral sample?
Reading Support:
- There is information to read on page 26 of the student activity book about the minerals, hematite and graphite. This is a great chance for students to partner read and record information in their science notebooks as they read to help them identify these minerals.
Math Support:
- Create a class prediction table for streak colors and how many minerals they think will have that streak color. Add the actual information at the end of the lesson.