60 minute Program | All Ages
Mineral Mystery introduces students to the basics of mineral identification using mineral properties such as streak, cleavage, lustre, magnetism, and colour. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how we use minerals in our everyday lives and explore the unique properties of common rock-forming minerals. Students will be able to touch real specimens and learn tools and tricks for how geologists identify minerals. This hands-on workshop lasts approximately one hour.
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Kindergarten Science: Humans interact with matter every day through familiar materials
Properties of familiar materials
Science 1: Matter is useful because of its properties, observable patterns and cycles occur in the local sky and landscape
• Specific properties of materials allow us to use them in different ways
Science 2: Materials can be changed through physical and chemical processes
• Physical ways of changing materials, chemical ways of changing materials
Science 4: Matter has mass, takes up space, and can change phase
• Phases of matter
Science 5: Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources
• The rock cycle, local types of earth material
Science 6: Everyday materials are often mixtures
• Mixtures
Science 7: Elements consist of one type of atom, and compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined
• Elements and compounds are pure substances, crystalline structure of solids, chemical changes
Science 9: The electron arrangement of atoms impacts their chemical nature
• The arrangement of electrons determines the compounds formed by elements
Earth Science 11: Earth materials are changed as they cycle through the geosphere and are used as resources, with economic and environmental implications
• Earth materials can be identified and classified based on their properties
Earth Science 12: Minerals and rocks are the foundation of the rock cycle and can be used as resources that drive industry and global economies
• Minerals can be classified and grouped based on their properties and composition
In addition to a guided program, you are welcome to combine your visit with any of our self-led (FREE) activities. Please visit our Educator Resources for ideas!