1. Earth Materials Investigation 2
Scratch Test
Part 1 – Observing Minerals

2. Science Safety
Scientists follow safety procedures to protect themselves when performing observations and experiments
They wear goggles to protect their eyes
They used the tools carefully so that they do not harm themselves or others
They do not put any scientific materials in their mouths
Spills are cleaned up quickly using the correct procedure

3. Science Jobs
Manager – this person will make sure that all members are on task
Reporter – this person will report the results of their groups work, you may need to take notes
Materials getter – this person will get materials
Materials collector – this person will return materials

4. Content Review
Rocks are made of different ingredients called minerals.
Minerals are pure materials that can’t be separated into different kinds of ingredients.

5. Vocabulary Review
After this review you will complete a matching sheet for vocabulary.
weight – how heavy something is
crystal – the solid form of a material that can be identified by its special shape or pattern
property – something you can observe, such as color, shape, texture, living/non-living

6. Vocabulary Review
dissolve – to disappear in a liquid. When salt mixes with water, it goes into solution and cannot be seen until the water dries up.
earth material – a substance that comes from the earth
depth – how thick an object is from top to bottom
geologist – a person who studies the earth and the materials of which it is made.

7. Vocabulary Review diameter – the distance across a round object
mineral – a basic earth material; a rock ingredient that cannot be broken down
evaporate – to dry up
rock – an earth material composed of different ingredients
circumference – the distance around an object

8. Vocabulary Quiz
Write the letter of the vocabulary word in the blank of the definition.

9. What We Will Learn
Some rocks can be identified by using a scratch test.

10. What We Will Do
Make and record observations of four different minerals.
Use the properties of color, texture and shape to record our observations.
Write detailed observations so that if the minerals were mixed up we would still be able to identify which number they were.

11. Materials Material Getters will get the trays with
4 sticky notes
A FOSS tray
Two hand lenses
You will record your information in your Earth Materials Booklet.
Your work in your Earth Materials Booklet will be graded, so do your best work.

12. Procedure
Managers will number the sticky notes 1 through 4 and put one in each of the four compartments on the tray.
The Manager will pick up a sample of mineral one.
The Reporter will pick up a sample of mineral two.
The Materials Getter will pick up a sample of mineral three.
The Materials Collector will pick up a sample of mineral four.

13. Earth Materials Booklet Scratch Test – Page 8
Observe the minerals carefully.
Draw or trace each mineral in your booklet.
Use the hand lens to magnify the minerals.
Write down your observations.
The challenge is to describe the minerals so well that you could reassign them to their numbers if they were mixed up.

14. Share Observations
Which of the properties (or combination of properties) is most useful in helping you identify a certain mineral?
Is one property enough information to identify a mineral?
Usually you need more than one property to describe a mineral so there is no question which one you mean.

15. Share Observations
What if I gave you the clue “It’s a small mineral.” Would that be enough information to identify any sample of that mineral?
A sample of a mineral can be any size; size is not determined by the type of mineral it is.
Do you think you could identify each mineral on another group’s tray if you didn’t have the numbers to help?

16. Return Materials
Put a sticky with your group’s names on it on your FOSS tray.
Return the tray to the materials center.

17. Content/Inquiry What is a mineral?
A basic earth material that cannot be broken down into smaller pieces.
What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?
Minerals are the ingredients that make up rocks.

18. Content/Inquiry
If someone sent you a letter and said they needed your help to identify a mineral that they had found, and they told you it was about the size of their fist, would you be able to identify it?
Size cannot be used as an identifying property; minerals (like rocks) come in all sizes. It is usuallly necessary to know several properties of a mineral to identify it.

19. Student Sheet – Mineral Properties
We will go over Student Sheet No. 14 and then you will complete it for a grade.

20. Science Stories
Read Science Stories “Treasure Underfoot” and “X Marks the Spot” after completing this part.