Rocks and Minerals for Middle School

This unit is sure to bring out the budding geologists in your middle school classroom. This unit seeks to answer the guiding question, How are we becoming increasingly dependent on our learning about rocks and minerals? Students will be fascinated exploring the crystal systems of minerals. They will create riddle cards for the minerals properties and will take these skills into lab work with identifying minerals. You will love how the minerals have been grouped, based on streak and how the lab is set up to resemble a puzzle. There are two suggestions for art based activities with clearly outlined criteria and a rubric for assessment. From minerals students will be guided into the world of rocks. They will create a foldable on the three rock families to use in classification exercises. A great lab on igneous rock cooling is included with two suggestions for alternate activities. Weathering is explored within sedimentary rock. There is a Rock bingo game and a board game included on the rock cycle. Students will have the opportunity to show their understanding of the rock cycle by creating their own rock cycle comic. This unit is guaranteed to keep both you and your students engaged. There are answer keys for all labs and activities. The table of contents is as follows.
1.Writing Conclusions with Costa Levels
2.Definitions of Costa Level Terms
3.Rubric for Lab Assessment
4.Guiding Question Suggested activity for introduction of unit
5.What is a Mineral?
6.Drawings for 5 Criteria by Which Minerals are Classified
7.Mineral Properties Definitions
8.Riddle Cards for How Minerals are Identified
9.Examples of Riddles
10.Riddle Card Template
11.Microscope Notes and Quiz and Key
12.Crystal Systems Notes
13.Crystal Identification Lab and Key
14.Mineral Identification Lab and Key
15.Mineral Groups Based on Streak
16.Mineral Chart
17.Mineral Property Table
18 Who Am I? A Puzzle based on Mohs Hardness Scale and Key
19.Mineral Mobile or use criteria for Mineral Wanted Poster and Rubric
20.Rock Types Foldable
21.Notes on 3 Rock Types For Foldable
22.Igneous Rock Cooling Lab and Key
23.Igneous Rock Classification Lab and Key
24.Igneous Rock Chart
25.Igneous Rock Questions and Key
26.Notes on Sedimentary Rock Weathering
27.How Do Rocks Weather Lab and Key
28.Rock Weathering Questions and Key
29.Sedimentary Rock Questions and Key
30.Metamorphic Rocks Textures and Parent Rocks
31.Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rock Classification and Key
32.Criteria for Rock Types Pamphlet
33.Rock Cycle Comic Criteria, Template and Rubric
34.Rock Bingo
35.Rock Cycle Game
36.Guiding Question Project