Stacie Blaut’s sixth-grade science class has been studying minerals. Their goal – to identify minerals based on their properties.

Ms. Blaut gave each group of students eight minerals and a key containing each mineral’s description. The students looked at each mineral for its color, luster, texture, streak and hardness, making notes about each.

 

To test the streak, which is the color left behind when the mineral is rubbed on a streak plate, students rubbed each mineral and made note of the color.

To test the hardness, they used objects such as a penny, fingernail and glass to determine the answer They had a table of hardness to help them determine the  correct answer. 

 

 

 

 

They determined if the minerals were smooth or rough, bumpy or sharp. They noted their color. They also tested to see if the minerals were magnetic or glowed with a fluorescent light.

 

 

On their worksheets, they recorded all of the physical properties, then determined which mineral was which: Calcite, galena, graphite, quartz, obsidian, hematite, magnetite and talc.

 

Best of all, they dove into this project with such enthusiasm!