Rocks and Minerals to “Die” For: Game 2

Preparation for class:

1)Need 1-6 (dot or numbered) dice – one for each group

2)Choose from the terms’ table below to create a table determined by grade

level and rock and/or minerals being studied. Those listed are just examples

and are not meant to be the only terms used.

3)Rock or Mineral sets – one for each group

Example of Terms That Might Be Used
Rock terms / Mineral terms
1 / igneous / colorless
2 / metamorphic / has color
3 / sedimentary / transparent
4 / coarse grained / translucent
5 / medium grained / opaque
6 / fine grained / dull
1 / no grains / glassy
2 / fossils present / metallic
3 / glassy / non-metallic
4 / dull / cleavage
5 / light color / no cleavage
6 / dark color / crystal form
1 / medium color / no crystals present
2 / two or more colors / magnetism
3 / Foliated (layers) / no magnetism
4 / non-foliated (no layers) / fluorescence
5 / crinkled foliation / reacts to HCl acid
6 / shiny / soft
1 / has heft / very hard
2 / feels gritty / smell
3 / powdery / tastes salty
4 / reacts to HCl acid / striations
5 / has pebbles / has heft
6 / other: / other:

Materials per group (2 or 3 students):

1)One 1-6 dot or numbered dice

2)Rock and/or mineral set

3)3-4 sets of 6 cards numbered 1-6 on back with
rock/mineral terms on back

Materials per person:
Terms Table

Example of Student Data Table
Turn / Term - 1st / Term - 2nd / Name / Explanation for rock/mineral type chosen
1 / sedimentary / feels gritty / sandstone
2 / coarse grained / two or more
colors / granite
3 / metamorphic / dull color / slate
4 / dark color / no grains / obsidian

Rules for Playing:

1)Place the 1-6 cards on the table, evenly spaced.

2)Position an equal number of term cards (geared to grade level and rocks/minerals being studied) term-down under the numbered cards – doesn’t matter what terms are used with numbers. (Students can create their own sets using terms.)

3)To play and in turn, the student who rolls the lowest number on the die begins.

  1. 1st student rolls dice and picks up a card matching the die.
  2. 1st student matches the rock/mineral with the term on the card and keeps them.
  3. If term can’t be matched, the 2nd player has a chance to make the match.
  4. If successful, 2nd player takes the term card and rock/mineral from the 1st player and, then, rolls the die and repeats a-b. If not, repeat “c” with 3rd player…and so on.
  5. Play continues until all rocks/minerals have been matched with at least one term.

4)Groups are successful if at least one term is matched to each rock/mineral in the set. All members of the group need to agree on the matches and each member is to complete the Student Data Table.

1 / 2
3 / 4
5 / 6
term / term
term / term
term / term