102 The History of the Earth: Supplemental Guide 5B | Minerals
Note: Extensions may have activity options that exceed the time
allocated for this part of the lesson. To remain within the time
periods allocated for this portion of the lesson, you will need to
make conscious choices about which activities to include based
on the needs of your students.Extensions 20 minutes
Rocks Book (Instructional Masters 5B-1 and 5B-2) 20 minutes
- Divide students into groups of four.
- Give each group four small/medium rocks of different types.
- Remind students that minerals are the building blocks of rocks
and that most rocks contain several different minerals. - Explain that today the class is going to look closely at
different rocks and then make a class book to remember their
observations. - Review with students the characteristics of rocks and minerals.
(shape, size, color, and texture) - Brainstorm descriptive vocabulary for each characteristic. Write
each of the characteristics on the chart and then write the
descriptive words students suggest. Ideas for descriptive words
include the following.
Characteristics of Rocks
Shape Size Color Texture
curvy large shiny rough
round medium dull smooth
oval small bright bumpy
sharp tiny dark jagged
many facets gigantic -colored cracked
peaked huge sparkly grainy
square enormous pale fl at