Curated OER
Mechanical Properties
Students explore the concept of hardness. In this physical science lesson plan, students will be using clay heated at different temperatures to study hardness based on the indention left. Students will also be identifying the variables...
Curated OER
Properties of Minerals
In this minerals worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by brainstorming and then writing down the 6 different properties of minerals.
Curated OER
Water Testing
Students work together to design their own experiment to test developed hypothesis about the minerals in water. As a class, they discuss the main components of water quality and describe the chemistry behind the hardness assay. They...
Curated OER
Activity #7 Special Properties: A Discussion
Middle schoolers identify special properties of matter (absorbency, hardness, brittleness, malleability, and elasticity). They define the term matter. Pupils investigate some of the special properties of matter to aid in classifying...
Curated OER
Geology: Rock Hounds
Second graders read Byrd Baylor's book, Everybody Needs a Rock. In small groups, they examine rocks and list their characteristics. After writing down the descriptions on cards, the rocks are pooled together. Students then use the...
Other
New Dana System Mineralogy Database
Over 3,900 mineral species descriptions are included in this HTML-linked table of Dana classifications for all known valid mineral species. 3-D models are available for over 600 minerals.
Other
Mineralogical Society of America: Mineral Identification Key: Mineral Properties
Scientists classify minerals based on a set of physical properties. Each of these properties is described in detail.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Water Properties and Measurements
Learn about the various attributes of water and how they affect life on Earth.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Georgia Virtual Learning: Geology: Minerals
In this amazing interactive tutorial, you'll learn about minerals - the building blocks or rocks and the Earth. We'll talk about what makes something a mineral, and how differences in these minerals let us organize them into different...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Earth Science: Minerals Ii: Properties
Instructional module focusing on the physical properties of minerals. Discussion includes the identifying characteristics such as color, hardness, luster, crystal forms, density, and cleavage. Site also includes an interactive practice...
Children's Museum
Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Golden Cube Geo Mysteries
Learn how to test a material by using the five main properties of minerals to identify it at this interactive site.
PBS
Nova Online: The Diamond Deception
A good overview of diamonds. Gives information on structure, properties, and origin. Includes models that can be rotated and examined in 3D. Also has activity for building your own carbon atom.
BBC
Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Materials: Rocks and Soils
Save Earth from the evil villain who is draining all the life from it. Following the activity, read more about rocks and soil, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Ionic Bonds and Ionic Compounds
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In the following online tutorial students will learn to explain how an ionic bond is formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another in terms of the...
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum: Mineral Matters: Hardness
Identifying a mineral by hardness? This website explains how to use the Mohs' hardness scale and provides examples.
James Madison University
James Madison University: Mineral Hardness and Cleavage
An explanation of the Mohs Hardness scale is followed by illustrations of crystal structures and cleavage.
Other
Grant Design: Glossary of Materials Attributes Breakdown
This resource contains a lengthy list of definitions of a variety of material properties related to solid strength and elasticity. The definitions are accompanied by equations and metric unit information.
James Madison University
James Madison University: Dept. Of Geology and Environmental Science: Minerals
Descriptions and pictures of over thirty minerals are available at this website. Documents describing the properties of minerals and how to use the properties for identification templates to make models, and dichotomous keys make up the...
Other
National Physical Laboratory: The History of Length Measurement
This resource provides historic information on length measurement in the United Kingdom. Click on the topics on the left toolbar of the article to find out more information.
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Mohs Hardness Scale [Pdf]
A chart of Mohs hardness scale with pictures of minerals at each level of hardness.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Chemistry: Physical Properties of Matter
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of physical property and examples of the physical properties of matter.
Children's Museum
Children's Museum of Indianapolis: What's a Hardness Scale?
Find an illustrated explanation of the Mohs' hardness scale, which is used to compare the hardness of minerals. The scale explains the differences in hardness among a range of minerals, beginning with the softest (talc) and ending with...
Other
Granta Design Limited: Glossary of Materials Attributes
From the Cambridge Engineering Selector web site. Contains a lengthy list of definitions of a variety of material properties related to solid strength and elasticity (and more). Definitions are accompanied by equations and metric unit...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Mineral Identification
At this site you can identify minerals by observing and testing the physical properties of each mineral. A mineral worksheet and mineral background sheet are included in this site.