What is a Mineral?

Introduction

Minerals are around you every day and you may not realize it.  We eat them, we cut with them, and some enjoy looking at them.  You will be searching the web to find answers to questions and provide a short power point or prezi presentation to the class as to what you find.  You will identify a mineral of your choice that can be found locally, and then answer the questions below about your mineral. 

There are some supporting questions that you will need to answer to finish this Quest successfully.  

  • What is a mineral?
  • How are minerals formed?
  • How can you identify your mineral? 
  • What use or uses does your mineral have?

Objectives:

SC.S.ES.2

Students will

  •   demonstrate   knowledge, understanding and applications of scientific facts, concepts,   principles, theories and models as delineated in the objectives.
  •   demonstrate an   understanding of the interrelationships among physics, chemistry, biology,   earth/environmental science and astronomy.
  •   apply   knowledge, understanding and skills of science subject matter/concepts to   daily life experiences.

 

WV CSOs

SC.O.ES.2.4

analyze radiometric dating and rock and fossil   evidence to determine the age of substances.

SC.O.ES.2.5

use chemical and physical properties to distinguish   between common minerals and explain their economic uses.

SC.O.ES.2.6

use rock characteristics to predict   paleoenvironments or geologic conditions which existed during the formation   of a given rock sample.

SC.O.ES.2.7

investigate and describe the properties of water,   which contribute to its critical role in physical and chemical weathering.
Task

This webquest has 2 main parts.

Step 1. Use the websites provided, and others, to research and answer the general questions about minerals.  These answers should be recorded in a Google docs page and shared with me before moving on to step 2.

Step 2.  Use the internet to research the answers to the questions about your locally found mineral (Questions on the Process page).  Create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation that includes the answers and supporting pictures.  Your presentation should be designed to educate your peers about your mineral.  The presentation should last between 3-5 minutes.  Your presentations will be peer and teacher reviewed so do a great job!

Process

Your assingment will be completed on your own.  You will have 2 days to complete this assignment and on the 3rd day you will be presenting your findings!  Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Please use the websites provided to find the answers to the questions below, Wikipedia will not be an accepted source on this assignment:

  • What is a mineral?
  • How are minerals formed?
  • How can you identify your mineral? 
  • Who cares about your mineral?
  • What use or uses does your mineral have?

1.  Please provide me with your answers to the questions above through google docs and share it with me.  Bucknemd@wvstateu.edu. 

NOTE!!  ALL SOURCES SHOULD BE PROPERLY SITED ON ALL YOUR WORK!.  I will provide a website to help you.

2.  Choose a mineral that is found locally and use the internet to answer the following questions about it.  Again, Wikipedia will not be an allowed source.  Be prepared to put this information into your PowerPoint or Prezi with pictures. 

  1. What is your mineral?
  2. What characteristics identify it?
  3. Where is it found locally?
  4. Are there many jobs that are supported by it? 
  5. How is it used in everyday products?
  6. Is there a need for a global supply of it?

Good Mineral Websites to start with:

www.minerals.net

http://geology.com/minerals/

http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/minerals.html#

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/silicates2.html&edu=elem

http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/mineralmuseum/gallery2.php?init=&loc=West+Virginia

http://teach.fcps.net/trt20/projects/EKU/what_is_a_mineral.htm

Evaluation
Evaluation Rubric   
    Beginning 1                          Developing 2   Very Good 3                            Exemplary 4                          Score
  Answering Questions                            Did not answer all of the questions.                      Answers all questions in complete sentences                      Thorough answers to all questions. All in complete sentences.                      Answers to questions went very in-depth and all written in complete sentences.                       25%          
  PowerPoint Presentation                                     Presentation is hard to read, no pictures, and slides are out of order.                      Presentation not easy to read, a few or unrelated pictures, and order of slides is questionable.                      Presentation is easy to read, each page includes relevant pictures, and follows a logical order.                      Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.                      25%               
  Citations                            No citations                      Few of the pictures and little of the  information is properly cited                      Most of the pictures and information is properly cited.                      All information and pictures in slides are properly cited.                      25%                  
  Presentation Skills                                    Presentation did not include clear voice, the volume was not appropriate, there was no  eye contact, and little or no understanding of material                      Presentation included a sufficiently clear voice, some eye contact, and basic understanding of material                      Presentation included clear voice with appropriate volume, eye contact, and  understanding of material.                      Presentation included clear voice with appropriate volume, eye contact, thorough understanding of material, and confidence                      25%
Total Score: %100
Conclusion

During this WebQuest you should have learned some general information about minerals.  Including:

  • What a mineral is.
  • How minerals form.
  • How to identify your minerals.
  • What uses your mineral has.

You should also have learned detailed information about a local mineral that you chose.  Including:

  • What characteristics your mineral has that identify it.
  • Where it is found.
  • The number of jobs supported by it.
  • How it is used commercially.
  • What the global supply is.

This WebQuest also provided an opportunity to further develop your PowerPoint, Prezi and citation skills.   

Teacher Page

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This WebQuest is designed with middle school and early highschool Earth Science students in mind.  It is meant to be an introduction to Minerals and incorporate the continued use of PowerPoint, Prezi presentation and citation skills.