Become a TEXAS
ROCKS and MINERALS
Detective
Introduction
| Task | Resources |
Process | Evaluation |
Conclusion |
Teacher's Notes |
Timeline | Credits
Introduction
Several local geologists found out that we are studying Rocks and Minerals and
have asked for our help. They would like us to help them by becoming rocks and
minerals detectives. Our job will be to collect clues about rocks and minerals
that are used in our area and to share our findings with the community in the
form of a multimedia presentation.
The Task
You and your partners will use the Internet and other resources to collect clues about rocks and minerals and how they are used. You will be looking for the answers to these questions:
| What are minerals? |
| What are the physical characteristics of your assigned mineral? |
| Where is your assigned mineral found as a natural resource? |
| How is your assigned mineral used once it is mined from the earth? |
| What are the three different types of rocks and how are they formed? |
| What type of rock is your assigned mineral associated with? |
You and your partners will then present your findings using one of the presentation choices provided by your teacher.
The Process
1. You will be assigned to groups of
three. Each group member will hold one of these positions:
| Mineral Detective | This person will find out what a mineral is and the specific characteristics of your assigned mineral. |
| Locator Detective | This person will find out what your assigned mineral is found in nature and how your assigned mineral is used once it is mined from the earth. |
| Rock Detective | This person will find out what the three different types of rocks are, how they are formed. then decide in what type of rock is your assigned mineral most often found. |
2. Once you've decided who will complete
each job, you will begin your detective work using both books and the Internet,
You will need to go to the resource and read through the information presented,
thinking about what you are reading. Make sure you think about your goals as a
detective and what you need to find out about rocks and minerals.
3. You will need to save any
pictures you want to use later in your folder on the computer. Remember to copy
and paste the url into a Word document to use it as a reference. And if you
find an interesting picture, right click on the picture, and "Save image as"
into your folder on the computer.
4. When you have looked through all the
information, read through all your notes and decide what is the most important
information that solves your detective work. Meet with your group for your
detective debriefing session. Remember that you are responsible
for teaching and sharing your information to the other members of your group.
5. As a group, organize
your information for your project. You will follow the complete writing
process for your project, and will be responsible for turning in all of your
work. Be sure that you include a bibliography with your project!
6. Create your project
sharing your detective work.
7. You will present your findings to your
class, so you will need to practice sharing your project several
times. Take suggestions from your practice partners and edit your presentation
as needed.
8. Finally, you will present your completed project to your class.
Resources
- Rocky the Rock Hound
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/rocks/
- This Planet Really Rocks. Thinkquest Junior 2000. (not operational January 2003)
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/
-
Minerals and Metals At Home
Take the tour, take the test.
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/wealth/home.htm
-
FAST FAQS about Rocks and Minerals
http://216.37.53.73/geomysteries/faqs.html
Evaluation
You will be evaluated on several things in this activity. First, you will be graded daily on the progress you and your partners make on this project. Then, you will be evaluated on the quality of information you gathered about your mineral. Next, you will be graded on the technical elements of you project, including following steps of the writing process, and the final project: neatness, content, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You will also be assessed on the quality of you cooperative group work as you gathered, organized, and presented your information. Lastly, you will be evaluated on the quality of your oral presentation as you share your findings with the community.
Scoring rubric
Conclusion
You have now successfully located the
physical characteristics of your assigned mineral and where that mineral is
found as a natural resource. You have also located clues that tell others how
that mineral is used once it is mined from the earth and the type of rock that
mineral is associated with.
Now that you have finished this Rocks & Minerals WebQuest,
you are officially a
Rocks & Minerals Detective!
Teacher's Notes
This WebQuest is designed to help students to use the research
process to learn about rocks and minerals.
The process is designed to follow the Big6 Research Model by
Eisenberg/Berkowitz.
Components of the Big6 Research Model
1. Task Definition.
Define the problem.
2. Information Seeking Strategies.
Determine possible sources.
Evaluate the different possible sources.
3. Location and Access.
Locate sources.
Find information within the sources.
4. Use the information.
Engage (read, hear, or view) the information in a source.
Extract information from a source.
5. Synthesis.
Organize information from multiple sources.
Present information.
6. Evaluation.
Judge the product. (effectiveness)
Judge the information problem solving process. (efficiency)
The process is designed so that, each detective team will be a heterogenous group of 3 members who will work together with one specific rock or mineral in depth. When the teacher assigns members to the detective teams the "Mineral Detective" is the easier task, the "Rock Detective" is the mid-range task, and the "Locator Detective" is the hardest task. Notetaking will be done on a graphic organizer using the Table of Contents and Index in books, and pre-selected Internet resources. The source of information will be credited through development of proper bibliographic citations. To synthesize the information, each student will be an equal contributor in the creation of a final product. Each group will present their project as part of an oral presentation to either their class or grade level. Since each presentation will be based on a different rock and mineral, audience participants could compare their rock with another group's rock utilizing a Double Bubble map.
Time Line
Provide background on the 3 types of rocks (sedementary, igneous, and metamorphic), and the vocabulary of the properties (e.g. luster, streak, hardness).
Introduce the "Become a Texas Rock and Mineral Detective" Webquest. Go through the tasks, so the students understand the questions to be answered as well as the process.
Assign groups, heterogeneous groups of 3 to specific Texas rocks. Each group to have a Locator Detective, Rock Detective, and Mineral Detective.
Begin Internet research using pre-selected sites on the webquest, 3 sessions, 1 session per group, approximately 45 minutes. Take notes on graphic organizer. Add sources to bibliography.
Research 1: All the Locator Detectives (since most of their notetaking success will be online.)
Research 2: All the Rock Detectives.
Research 3: All the Mineral Detectives.
Could be done concurrent with Internet research.
Using books, locate information via Table
of Contents and Index. Take notes on graphic organizer.
Add sources to bibliography.
After Notes are taken, organize your project by the use of 5x8 index cards.
One question would be answered on each card.
Plus make a draft Title card to be the first card, and a draft Bibliography card to be the last card.
Lesson on recording proper bibliographic citation for Bibliography card.
Design a rubric as a class to evaluate the webquest.
Practice time for presentations will need to be allowed in the classroom.
Presentation. The library can be scheduled to use the large presentation unit on the wall screen.
Credits
The webquest is based on Rocks and Minerals Detectives developed by Kim Brannon in 1999 and Connecticut Rocks and Minerals Detectives developed by Joan Schneider in 2003.
This page was created by Kathy Carlson
February, 2004