Make a mineral poster.
One of the best ways to teach students or to reinforce lessons is to give them hands-on follow up activities. This helps them remember key concepts and retain information by giving them more ways to remember it--- through touch and visualization as well as through reading and hearing. Many students also have a lot of fun creating projects, making them more likely to remember the information because they are interested in it.
Geology or science class is a prime place to use these projects. After learning about minerals and their characteristics, help your students make mineral posters. You can hang these posters up in the classroom as a visual reference.
Instructions
1. Research your specific mineral or minerals in an information reference like a textbook or a book specifically about minerals. Write down general characteristics like where and how it forms, colors, hardness, molecular shape and where its name derives from.
2. Cut several large rectangles of paper, either in white or several different colors, and write the main information on them. Be concise: write "Colors: Red with gold flecks and black streaks" instead of "The mineral is mostly red and has gold flecks and some black streaks." This saves room.
3. Draw a picture of your mineral on the poster board itself. Use metallic and iridescent paint to match the colors exactly. Glue your fact rectangles around the picture, staggering them or placing them at slight angles for visual interest.
4. Use packing tape to secure a mineral sample to your poster, either over top of your drawing or in its own special square. If you don't have a mineral sample, don't worry; your picture should be enough.
Tags: about minerals, black streaks, gold flecks, mineral poster, mineral sample, them more
