Name: ______
Mighty Minerals! Project
(The Building Blocks of the Earth)
My mineral: ______
Due Date: ______
You and a partner choose how you want to present your project: poster (18”x22” maximum), computer presentation (PowerPoint, etc.), other?
Your project must include:
●Name of your mineral shown clearly (and spelled correctly)
●Picture with colorof your mineral (from Internet, photographed,or neatly hand-drawn)
●Properties of your mineral:
−Color(s)
−Streak
−Luster
−Hardness (** see information below)
−Crystal shape
−Cleavage/fracture
** for hardness: include Moh’s hardness number
and name two minerals that can be scratched by your mineral (softer)
and two minerals that can scratch your mineral (harder), if possible.
●Locations where your mineral is found. This may be general areas of the world or specific areas. This depends on your mineral; some minerals are commonly found around the world, others are found in limited areas (include a map).
●Interesting facts about your mineral. This should include how your mineral is used (if it is useful to us), how commonly it is found, other interesting properties (like magnetism, etc.), types of rocks in which it is found. Include other information you find that is interesting (and that you understand).
●A list of the sourcesthat you used for information (books, encyclopedias, websites, etc.)
●Your project should be attractive. Make it colorful and neat! Include your names
Mighty Minerals! Project
Scoring Guide
______Name of mineral is clearly shown and spelled correctly (5 points)
______Picture of mineral is included with color(5 points)
______Properties are displayed or included accurately:
___color
___streak
___luster
___hardness (including Moh’s number, two harder and
two softer minerals - if possible)
___crystal shape
___cleavage (12 points)
______Locations where mineral is found with map(5 points)
______At least 3 interesting facts (10 points)
______List of sources is included(5 points)
______Project is attractive and neat(3 points)
______Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are accurate(3 points)
______Your name(2 points)
Total 50 points
Rubric score: Presentation:
50 = 3+Exceeding expectations
40 - 49 = 3 Meeting expectations
30 - 39 = 2 Approaching expectations
Below 30Not meeting standards
Mighty Minerals! Project
(The Building Blocks of the Earth)
Worksheet
My mineral: ______
Due Date: ______
How I’m going to present my project (circle one)
posterPowerPointother
Mineral properties:
Color(s) ______
Streak______
Luster______
Hardness______(Moh’s number)
______(2 softer minerals)
______(2 harder minerals)
Crystal shape ______
Cleavage______
Where my mineral is found: ______
Interesting facts (how is it used, interesting properties, rocks it forms….)
______
______My Sources [include title, author, and publication information. For websites, include URL ( address, date you used that website and author, if available.]
______
______
______
Mighty Minerals! Project
(The Building Blocks of the Earth)
Some Suggested Resources
❖Encyclopedias (look up the name of the mineral)
❖Rock and Mineral field guides or other books (in our classroom, libraries)
❖Websites:
geology.com/minerals (good basic information, also has interesting information about careers in geology!)
mineral.galleries.com
geology.about.com/library/bl/blquickmineral_id.htm (lists the most common rock-forming minerals. These occur in common rocks around the world. See if your mineral is on this list!)
- good starting place for some minerals (it does not have information about all the minerals in our project - sorry!)
– This website is run by the U.S. government. It is very reliable for accurate information. It gives you access to a lot of information about how minerals are used by people.