Grade 4: Rocks and Minerals

Rocks and minerals play an important role in the natural world and human society. This collection will allow you to step into the role of a museum geologist and help you learn how to closely examine a museum specimen. To start, look through the 12 specimens to learn more about their unique properties. Select your favorite and use your new knowledge to complete the student worksheet. 

Additional Resources in this Learning Lab

Videos

• Rock Types: This short video with geologist Dr. Ben Andrews will take you through the 3 types of rocks.
• What is a Mineral?: In this short video, Mineralogist Dr. Gabriela Farfan describes the five characteristics that all minerals have in common while sharing mineral specimens like the Berns Quartz from the museum's collection.
  
• Mineral Dependence: Gemstones to Cellphones: In this 30 minute video, Dr. Mike Wise will teach you about unusual rocks called pegmatites and the large mineral crystals they contain. Find out how you depend on pegmatites for everyday uses, such as operating your cellphone.