In this activity, kids will act like geologists as they streak test different minerals. Some minerals have streaks that are like their color, but many do not. Pyrite, or fool’s gold, gives a dark olive green streak, and fluorite which is dark purple leaves a white streak. Most times, the streak test is helpful in identifying the mineral. You'll need various mineral samples plus easy-to-find materials.
 
What's Included:
✅ Task Card instructions
✅ Student Sheet for capturing observations
✅ Answer Key to Student Sheet
✅ Student Reading with Questions
✅ Answer key to Student Reading questions.
✅ Teacher Notes with prep, set up, and explanations.
 
This Resource Is Great For:
❑ Whole class activity
❑ Group work
❑ Science Center, Science Stations
 
Questions Answered:
☀ What is a streak test and what does it tell you?
☀ How does the color of a rock relate to the color of its streak?
 
Topics & Concepts Addressed:
✦ Minerals can be identified by the streak they make.
✦ Sometimes the streak a mineral makes is different from its color.
✦ Sometimes the streak a mineral makes is the same as its color.
 
Materials Needed
white ceramic tiles, black wet/dry sandpaper, suggested mineral samples: hematite, fluorite, pyrite, malachite, quartz, graphite, magnetite, copper
 
Preparation Needed
collect materials, order rock samples