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Mineral ID Dichotomous Key Practice

This is an assignment I give my students before they actually take their mineral identification test. In this activity, the minerals have already gone through the individual characteristics tests such as luster, hardness, color, streak, and other mineral properties. This assignment is to give students practice using a dichotomous key that can help them identify minerals. This assignment also contains vocabulary words commonly used when identifying minerals.

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Modeling Air Convection Currents and High and Low Pressure Systems

In this lab I have students observe what happens to water, which represents air, warms up and what happens to water as it cools down. Using a hot plate, a large glass cake pan, a bag of ice and food coloring can easily demonstrate how wind is formed. The demonstration can also be used in topics of high/low pressure, warm and cold fronts, mantle convection if you would like. The assignment, however, is for high and low pressure systems and wind.

How Far Can you Run Text Structures Game

In this reading game, students will jump a character as it runs through an obstacle course.  If the student misses a jump, a text structure reading question will appear.  If the student answers the question correctly he/she will be able to continue.  The question is missed, the character loses a try.  Three tries lost, ends the game. After every mile the speed increases.  The goal is to run 10 miles without missing three questions. Structures asked about are: Sequence, Compare and Contrast, Problem/Solution, Cause/Effect, Description, Chronology/Timeline

How small is an atom? Video

This video does an excellent job explaining the answer to the question, "How small is an atom?  It compares an atom to the size of a grapefruit and a blueberry.  It is amazing to visualize just how small atoms really are.
 If you happen to be teaching about atomic structure, this might help your students understand this particular scientific concept.

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