RPSEC Student Programs for
South Carolina & Georgia Schools

 

Marvelous Minerals

Student Programs Lesson Information, Standards Correlations, and Post Visit Activities

Marvelous Minerals: (Grade 3 • 60 minutes) Working together in small groups, students handle mineral specimens such as sulfur, malachite, amethyst, hematite, quartz, bauxite, pyrite, fluorite, copper, and mica. They learn to identify and classify common minerals on the basis of their properties using a field guide and minerals identification key.

Traveling Science Kits that support or extend this lesson
Pre & Post Visit Activities

This lesson supports the following science standards:

South Carolina Schools

Georgia Schools

Grade 3: SCSS 3.2, 3.7

Grade 3 Science
Earth’s Materials and Changes
Standard 3-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth’s composition and the changes that occur to the features of Earth’s surface. (Earth Science)

Indicators:
3.2 Identify common minerals on the basis of their properties by using a minerals identification key.
3.7 Exemplify Earth materials that are used as fuel, as a resource for building materials, and as a medium for growing plants.

Grade 3: S3E1 a, b

Grade 3 Science
S3E1: Students will investigate the physical attributes of rocks and soils.

Indicators:
a. Explain the difference between a rock and a mineral.
b. Recognize the physical attributes of rocks and minerals using observation (shape, color, texture), measurement, and simple tests (hardness).

Please direct inquiries to:
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
c/o Student Programs
USC Aiken, Box 3, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 641-3313 from Augusta 278-1967 Ext. 3313

RPSEC@usca.edu

Copyright © 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.

Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
Center of Excellence in Educational Technology
University of South Carolina Aiken
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29801
803-641-3313

URL: http://rpsec.usca.edu/student/Programs/MarvelousMinerals/MarvelousMinerals.html (April 2008)