TITLE: Introduction to Minerals
AUTHOR: Janet Weaver, Rosary Catholic School;
Oklahoma City, OK
GRADE LEVEL: 5-8 grades; earth or physical science
OVERVIEW: This lesson can be used as the opening lesson for
a unit on mineral or crystal structure. It requires the
students to create shapes cooperatively then to put those
shapes together. This is analogous to individual crystals
forming or to minerals forming.
PURPOSE: To create a discovery of structure analysis and to
facilitate cooperative learning.
OBJECTIVE(s):
To introduce concept of minerals being made up of structures
in certain patterns. These structures determine some of the
properties of the minerals.
To allow the students to create together in a cooperative
situation.
MATERIALS:
Sheets of paper (from your recycling bin,I hope)
Tape and/or glue
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1. Divide into groups of 3-6 (7 groups)
2. Hand out sheets of paper (1-2 sheets per person)
3. Instruct each group to make their paper into the shape
assigned them. The shape must be 3-dimensional and at
least 5 copies of the shape must be made by each group.
(Shapes to make are: cube, rectangular box, sphere,
cone, cylinder, 3 sided pyramid, 4 sided pyramid)
4. Try not to instruct on how to make the shapes. Size is
of no consequence though all shapes of each individual
group should be approximately the same size. Encourage
creative ways to form shapes and cooperative
brainstorming in the designing.
5. After all groups are finished, show off each shape
commenting on the creative thinking involved.
6. Instruct each group to put all of their shapes together
into the most compact structure possible without
changing any of the original shapes. Tape can be used
to hold them together.
7. When groups finish have each one describe and show
their shapes. For the most part each large shape will
resemble the smaller original shapes. Relate this to
crystal structure.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: From this activity it is easy to
relate to crystal structures and to show actual structures
microscopically or otherwise.
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