Teach students about how the Earth is formed of rock layers.
Earth science is a key part of the fifth grade curriculum, and students are often asked to participate in various projects to learn more effectively. The study of minerals and rocks opens a door to a number of interactive projects and experiments. These hands-on projects will help students learn the basics of what rocks and minerals are essential for in their lives.
Discover a Meteorite
Have students collect an assortment of rocks and excite them with the possibility of finding a meteorite. Instruct them to look for rocks that have a thin black rind. Meteorites are sometimes very shiny or sometimes matte black. Make students aware that the exterior features of a meteorite make up what is called a fusion crust. Students can use a magnifying glass to look closely at the rocks for what appears to be thumb shaped indentations that are created when meteorites melt while entering the Earth's atmosphere. Meteorites are also known to have iron in them and that can be tested by passing magnets over them. Advise students that if the magnet attracts the rock that there is metal in the rock sample.
Test Mineral Hardness
Equip students with a penny, iron nail and a metal file. Have students study a variety of rocks and educate them on determine the hardness of each sample by using The Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. Explain that this scale was developed by German scientist, Frederich Mohs and is often used by prospectors to test the hardness of minerals that they find. For instance, if a prospector finds what appears to be gold, it could be just iron pyrite or "fools gold." Hardness can be tested by scratching the rock with the various tools. Gold would be much softer than the pyrite in this case. Download and print a chart like the one featured in the list of references titled, "Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness." Use the chart to help students classify their samples based on the scale.
Focus on the Earth
To help students better understand the layers of rocks and minerals that make up the core of the Earth, have them build models that focus on the geological process that compacts materials together. Provide students with layers of aluminum foil, loose materials such as sand or bits of powdered graphite, two boards and a hammer so that they can create models of the various layers of the Earth between the sheets of tin foil. Once the layers are formed, have the students place the layers between boards and hammer them downward to mimic the pressure of the Earth. Have the students record what takes place when the hammering action occurs.
Experiment with Texture
Procure a rock tumbler if possible and use it to offer an example of how rocks become smooth over time with the effects of the environment. Challenge students to make a tumbler of their own by providing them with empty coffee cans or paint cans with lids on them. Have the students fill their containers with enough sand to fill one quarter of the container and enough water to fill three quarters of the container and then add a handful of rocks to the mix. Make it a daily activity for the children to vigorously shake their containers for one week. At the end of the week have the children record and share their results.
Tags: Have students, help students, Mineral Hardness, boards hammer, layers Earth