What is a Mineral? Sorting Activity

 

rhodochrosite
Source: Minerals 4 Kids

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.

Is it a mineral_ Classwork.jpg

 

 

Resources:

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.