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For Teachers and Parents
Please note the Rock & Mineral Challenge is meant to supplement a rock and mineral unit. It is our hope that teachers and parents will use the website as an additional tool in learning about rocks and minerals.
The Rock & Mineral Challenge is geared for grades 3 to 5. However it may be used by anyone or any age group in order to further enhance knowledge of rocks and minerals.
It is helpful to maximize the viewing area on the computer screen to see all of the text.
In the Mineral Identification section please note that minerals may vary in color and crystal shape. We chose minerals that are fairly consistent and common and most of which are part of the Moh’s scale of hardness. Some items such as glass and hammers were omitted from the activity.
Hints for Testing Mineral Hardness in the Classroom:
When testing hardness for real, remember that glass and steel (nails) have
varying degrees of hardness. Always hold minerals, glass, and porcelain plates
firmly on a flat surface. Scratch with the grain of the stone (if visible).
Although some minerals have a definite crystal shape they do not always have
perfect cleavage. A hammer is used to break a part of the rock or mineral and
observe the broken area for a step like pattern. However many minerals already
have breaks or chips that can be observed closely to determine whether a mineral
has cleavage.
Your
comments: Feedback Form for the Rock & Mineral Challenge
Educational Programs & Resources are available through the
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. The Museum offers group tours,
teaching aid boxes, and videos.
Please call (630) 833-1616 or E-mail
us at
the Museum to get on our mailing list and receive the Educational Programs
brochure and the Calendar of Events.
Links to more information on Rocks & Minerals:
Geology
The American Geological Institute strives to increase public awareness of the
vital role the geosciences play in mankind’s use of resources and interaction
with the environment. The AGI produces the book Minerals Foundations of Society
a great resource for learning how we use minerals in our everyday lives. For
more information on other AGI earth resource publications - Environmental Awareness
Series, etc - see http://www.agiweb.org./
U.S. Geological Survey has a website dedicated to K-12 education and lifelong
learning. The website includes lesson plans for teachers, georesources
and educational materials. www.usgs.gov/education/.
The Illinois State Geological Survey offers information on Illinois geology
including teaching materials and field trips. http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/
The Illinois State Museum website “exhibits” section has information
on Ice Ages, Mazon Creek fossils and the geology of the Midwest 16,000 years
ago. http://www.museum.state.il.us/
The Planetary Studies Foundation located in Algonquin, Illinois is dedicated
to the study of meteorites and astronomy. PSF offers educational programs
and observatory tours for children. For more information on PSF see http://www.planets.org./
The Franklin Institute Online Museum Educator an award winning site that teaches
children about the rock cycle and how to collect rocks and minerals. http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/.
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has a section of their website dedicated
to geology with an activity on solving rock and fossil mysteries. http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/index2.html.
The Rogers Group an Indiana crushed rock producer offers a look at quarry mining
and includes information on minerals and experiments to try at home. http://www.rogersgroupinc.com/,
click on “our communities,” then on “rockology.”
PBS: NOVA has a website on volcanoes of Hawaii see how they were formed and
how geologists monitor them. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hawaii/.
Rock Hound Clubs
The Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois is a club dedicated to rock hounds (young and old) find out about field trips and information on rocks, minerals and fossils especially the Mazon Creek fossils of Illinois. http://www.esconi.org/
The West Suburban Lapidary Club is a club dedicated to lapidary hobbyists.
If you are interested in learning how to cut & polish stones and
silversmithing this is it!
http://www.compu-classic.com/wslc
