Minerals and Crystals

Mia and mica.

The fifth graders at Redeemer Lutheran learned about minerals and their properties when Mrs. Keyburn, the elementary science enrichment teacher, brought out many different kinds of rocks for the 5th graders to explore, study, and learn about. Some of the rocks she brought out were gneiss, feldspar, granite, and calcite. Ethan found a website that pronounces names of things outloud. Here's the website  http://howjsay.com/index.php?word=gneiss
Mrs. Keyburn explained where all these rocks were formed, and whether they were intrusive(underground formation) or extrusive(above ground formation).

  We looked at the crystal shapes in calcite, galena, halite, iron, feldspar, mica, and other minerals.  Then we identified minerals present in granite. 

Reported by Emily



Ainsley's rhombic dipyramid.      photo by Serenity

Second Grade Rocks

To get hands-on with our Landforms science unit, we studied minerals and erosion in the Rainbow room today.  We began in song:

A rock is a home for minerals
A rock is a home, you see,
For heat and pressure and erosion
Form them differently!

Then, we enjoyed an interactive 'rock cycle'.  You may enjoy viewing it with your child:

http://www.teachersdomain.org/assets/wgbh/ess05/ess05_int_rockcycle/index.html

 

Our science testbook had a terrific inquiry: p. 196: How Land Shapes Change. We eroded our rock salt mineral in a jar of water and sand. Boy, you could see the difference using our 30X illuminated microscopes!

 

A display of minerals shows that crystals come in all shapes and sizes.

To make rock candy: http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/vtl07.math.geometry.sol.rockcandy/