Rock & Mineral Third Grade Projects
Explore the world of science with rock and mineral projects designed for third grade students. Hands-on educational projects allow students to discover both the similarities and differences of various minerals and rocks through investigation. Through basic scientific method, third graders learn how to identify hardness, magnetism, luster and other properties of minerals. Students should record their hypothesis, observations and results in a log for reference in writing a report on their experiments.
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Classification and Origin
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Introduce three classifications of rocks to the class for study and comparison. Use photos and bring in rocks from each category for the children to touch. Send the students on a backyard scavenger hunt to find metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks. Draw a map of the country on multiple pieces of butcher paper and allow students to label and color the states. Have students place rocks or photos of rocks on geographic areas where the specific types of rocks are found. Children will enjoy bringing in rocks or photos from their family vacations to share.
Rock Tumbling Activity
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Allow students to use a rock tumbler to see the effects of smoothing a rock. If you do not have a tumbler, you can make one easily and cheaply with common household materials. Should you want each child to have a rock tumbler of their own, save baby food bottles or ask for donations of empty paint cans and lids. Simply pour some sand into the container, add enough water to fill the container ¾ full and secure the lid. Children will have to shake their homemade tumbler vigorously daily for at least a week. Allow the rock to stay in the closed container in between the shaking sessions.
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Field Guide Detective
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Become a field guide detective and determine the properties and differences between rocks and minerals. Draw a rock and mineral classification chart on the chalkboard or create individual worksheets for the students. Provide at least a dozen samples of rocks and minerals either gathered outside or purchased from an educational supply store. Test the hardness of each sample by crushing it with a small hammer. Provide safety goggles for the students as they take turns pounding on the samples. Follow the standard textbook guide which explains the manner in which minerals can be scratched and break into a series of crystals when crushed. Test the gravity and density of the samples by filling a cylinder halfway full with water. Reference the textbook guide to demonstrate how much heavier rocks are than minerals and how to measure density levels when you test each sample rock and mineral.
Salt Crystals Experiment
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Demonstrate how minerals grow and change with a salt crystals experiment. Students can work in groups with minimal adult supervision. Have each group complete an observation chart to log the daily changes in their crystals. Needed supplies include a clean sponge, small bowl, Epsom salts and water. Boil the water for the students and allow them to pour 1 ½ cups of salt into their bowls, Students can place the sponge into the cooled water. Set the students' bowls in a sunny spot and watch crystals begin to form over the course of the school week.
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References
- Photo Credit rocks image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
