Middle School Science Blog

Udated 4/16/20 – Distance Learning Version

Students will watch a video on the 5 properties of minerals and sort using Google Slides

• Using Google Classroom – assign the Google Slides and make a copy for each student.
• Students will turn in their assignment for grading.
• For incorrect answers, I colored the boxes in orange so students can see which ones do not belong.

Resources:

• What is a Mineral? Public Google Slides (link)
  • to modify slides you will need to select
    • “File” then “Make a Copy” for Google Slides
    • “File” and select “Download as Microsoft PowerPoint”
• Google Slides as Task Cards: (What is a Mineral- Sorting Activity (Public))
• Handout & Notes: PropertiesofMineralsNotes (1)

I use this activity as an introduction to my minerals and mining unit. Students learn the 5 properties of minerals (SNIFC) and apply them to a variety of items to categorize each item as either a mineral or non-mineral.

I also have the slides in a pdf format if you would like to have the students sort the items first, then discuss each item and why they think it is or isn’t a mineral. Then, they can view the answers afterwards.