Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Mineral Madness Lesson PlanMineral Madness Lesson Plan
Publisher
Science Friday
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
6th - 8th
Subjects
Science
1 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
1 more...
Technology
Video
Internet Access
Year
2011
Lesson Plan

Mineral Madness

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Science does not need to be as hard as a rock. Pupils test 10 different minerals to determine their properties. The learners observe luster, streak, hardness, and fluorescence for each specimen. Afterwards, they compare and contrast the minerals based on their observations.

28 Views 25 Downloads

Concepts

mineral identification, mineral properties, minerals, properties of rocks, crystals, fluorescence, luster, hardness

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Use a KWL to assess the learners' understanding of minerals
  • As a class, determine the procedures to determine the properties of the minerals

Classroom Considerations

  • Requires at least one set of mineral specimens

Pros

  • Suggests where to purchase mineral specimens
  • Contains a link to a virtual lab

Cons

  • None

See similar resources:

Unit Plan

Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives

Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and...
K - 6th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)

Chicago Botanic Garden
What is the difference between making inferences and making observations? Young climatologists refer to a PowerPoint to make observations on each slide. They record their observations in a provided worksheet before drawing a...
5th - 6th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Exploring Rocks and Minerals

Cornell University
Investigate the properties of rocks and minerals through a rockin' hands-on activity. Learners test rocks for various properties and, using a guide, attempt to identify different samples. They use various properties including hardness,...
3rd - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Nano Interactions

Cornell University
Tiny particles can provide big learning opportunities! Middle school scientists explore the world of nanoparticles through reading, discussion, and experiment. Collaborative groups first apply nanotechnology to determine water...
6th - 9th Science
Lesson Plan

Mineral Matters

Curated OER
Students work in a team to use the ProScope Digital USB Microscope and a computer to collect microscopic images from a variety of mineral specimens. They compare specimens and determine how they are alike and different by comparing their...
6th - 8th Science
Unit Plan

Rocks & Minerals

Core Knowledge Foundation
Take young geologists on an exploration of the rock cycle with this six-lesson earth science unit on rocks and minerals. Through a series of discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on investigations your class will learn...
4th - 7th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Forensic Science: Case of the Missing Diamond Maker

Cornell University
Someone stole a diamond-making machine. Who done it? Scholars use forensic science at six different stations to determine the culprit. They analyze fingerprints, use their senses, and complete chemistry experiments to determine the...
5th - 9th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
PPT

Minerals

Curated OER
A must-have for your geology library of resources, this PowerPoint walks viewers through the characteristics of minerals and each test used to help identify them. As you present this collection of slides, stop to demonstrate each quality...
4th - 8th Science
PPT

Minerals of the Earth

Curated OER
Unearth this gem of a resource to use in your geology unit! With colorful images, bullet-point text, and links to related videos, it deals with the characteristics, properties, and identification of minerals. There are also slides...
5th - 7th Science
Instructional Video

The Science of Lunch

Crash Course Kids
Extend your class's observation skills with a video about additional properties of matter. The video covers the ways an item can be altered, including its hardness, malleability, conductivity, and magnetism as...
4 mins 3rd - 8th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use