Rocks and Minerals

The Smithsonian Mystery of the Missing Rocks!

A shocking discovery has been made at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History—several rare and priceless rock and mineral specimens have vanished! As a junior geologist, it's up to you to solve the mystery, uncover clues, and restore the missing specimens before they’re lost forever.

Using your knowledge cards and the Adventure Guide video, you’ll navigate through the Hall of Lost Crystals, the Rock Cycle Lab, and the Meteorite Vault—each packed with puzzles, challenges, and hidden secrets. If you succeed, you’ll recover a real dig kit, where you can excavate and add specimens to your growing collection!

Are you ready for the challenge? The mystery awaits—start your adventure now!

Lesson Plan: The Smithsonian Mystery of the Missing Rocks

Grade Level: 3rd – 5th Grade
Duration: 1 Hour
Subject: Earth Science – Rocks & Minerals

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and classify common minerals based on their properties.
2. Describe the three types of rocks and how they form within the rock cycle.
3. Explain the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition.
4. Use scientific reasoning to solve real-world rock and mineral identification problems.

Lesson Outline:

1️⃣ Introduction (10 Minutes) – Engage

• Begin with a class discussion:
  • What do you already know about rocks and minerals?
  • Where do we see rocks and minerals in everyday life?
• Introduce the lesson challenge:
  • “A major mystery has struck the Smithsonian! Valuable rock and mineral specimens have vanished, and it’s up to us to recover them!”
• Explain that students will:
  • Learn about rocks and minerals through an informative video.
  • Apply their knowledge by completing an online escape room challenge.
  • Demonstrate their learning with an optional downloadable worksheet.

2️⃣ Instructional Video: Adventure Guide (15 Minutes) – Learn

• Play the Adventure Guide video, which provides all necessary information about:
  • Mineral Properties (Hardness, Luster, Streak, etc.)
  • Rock Types & the Rock Cycle (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)
  • Weathering & Erosion (How rocks break down and move over time)
• During the video, students take notes using knowledge cards or a simple graphic organizer.
• Quick Check-In:
  • Ask a few review questions to ensure comprehension before moving to the escape room.

3️⃣ Smithsonian Escape Room (25 Minutes) – Apply & Assess

• Students navigate the online escape room using their knowledge from the video to answer questions.
• The escape room is divided into three sub-sections:
  1. The Hall of Lost Crystals – Identifying minerals and their properties.
  2. The Rock Cycle Lab – Classifying rocks and understanding the rock cycle.
  3. The Meteorite Vault Heist – Understanding weathering, erosion, and the role of minerals in everyday life.
• Students work independently or in small groups to solve the escape room.

4️⃣ Assessment & Wrap-Up (10 Minutes) – Reflect

• Class Discussion:
  • What was the most interesting fact you learned today?
  • Which part of the escape room was the most challenging?
• Optional Assessment:
  • Provide a downloadable worksheet for students who need additional review or assessment.

Key Vocabulary:

1️⃣ Mineral – A naturally occurring, non-living solid with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure.
2️⃣ Igneous Rock – A type of rock that forms when magma or lava cools and hardens.
3️⃣ Sedimentary Rock – A rock formed from layers of sediment, compacted and cemented over time.
4️⃣ Metamorphic Rock – A rock that has changed form due to heat and pressure deep within the Earth.
5️⃣ Erosion – The process of rocks and soil being moved by wind, water, or ice over time.

Materials Needed:

✅ Adventure Guide Video (For Instruction)
✅ Online Escape Room (For Engagement & Assessment)
✅ Downloadable Worksheet (For Additional Assessment, if needed)

Standards Alignment:

This lesson aligns with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards):

• 3-ESS2-1: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
• 4-ESS1-1: Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
• 5-PS1-3: Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

Teacher Notes & Tips:

• Encourage students to use their knowledge cards throughout the escape room.
• Remind students that they can replay the Adventure Guide video if they get stuck.
• For classrooms with limited technology, consider working through the escape room as a whole class activity.

Teacher Reference Guide

In this lesson, students will explore the fascinating world of rocks and minerals through a structured and engaging experience that combines direct instruction, an interactive video, and an online escape room challenge. The goal is for students to understand key geological concepts, including mineral properties, rock types, the rock cycle, and processes like weathering and erosion. The lesson is divided into three main sections: an instructional video (the Adventure Guide), the online escape room, and a class discussion or optional assessment.

Begin the lesson by engaging students in a class discussion. Ask them what they already know about rocks and minerals and where they might see them in everyday life. Introduce the Smithsonian Mystery of the Missing Rocks and explain that their mission is to recover the museum’s lost specimens. Let students know they will be watching an informational video and using the knowledge gained from it to successfully complete the escape room challenge.

Play the Adventure Guide video, which will serve as the primary instructional component of the lesson. This video will introduce students to key concepts they need to understand to successfully navigate the escape room. The video will cover mineral properties such as hardness, luster, streak, cleavage, and fracture, as well as the three main rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. It will also introduce the rock cycle, explaining how rocks change over time due to heat, pressure, weathering, and erosion. The video will highlight how weathering and erosion shape the Earth’s surface and how minerals are used in everyday life. Encourage students to take notes on key terms and concepts using knowledge cards or a graphic organizer. After the video, check for understanding by asking students to summarize the main points.

Once students have watched the video, they will enter the online escape room. The escape room is divided into three themed sections, each reinforcing different aspects of the lesson. In the first section, The Hall of Lost Crystals, students will use their knowledge of mineral properties to correctly identify and classify various minerals. The second section, The Rock Cycle Lab, requires students to apply their understanding of rock types and the rock cycle to correctly categorize rock samples. Finally, in The Meteorite Vault Heist, students will analyze clues related to weathering, erosion, and mineral uses to track down a stolen meteorite. In each section, students must answer multiple-choice questions correctly to progress through the escape room. If they get stuck, they can click the Adventure Guide button to rewatch the instructional video.

After students complete the escape room, bring the class back together for a discussion. Ask them what they found most interesting, what was challenging, and what strategies they used to answer the questions. Reinforce key takeaways from the lesson and clarify any misunderstandings. If additional assessment is needed, provide students with a downloadable worksheet that includes review questions and application-based tasks related to the escape room content.

Key vocabulary terms for this lesson include mineral, igneous rock, sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock, and erosion. Students should be able to define these terms and apply them correctly within the context of their escape room experience. Throughout the lesson, encourage students to think like geologists, using evidence and scientific reasoning to classify rocks and minerals accurately.

This lesson aligns with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) and supports students in developing observational and analytical skills related to Earth science. It is designed to be completed in one hour, making it an effective way to introduce or reinforce foundational geology concepts in an engaging format. Teachers should encourage students to use their knowledge cards and revisit the Adventure Guide video as needed to support their learning.

By the end of the lesson, students will have successfully completed their mission to recover the missing rocks and minerals, reinforcing their understanding of the topic while applying their knowledge in an interactive way. Encourage them to continue exploring geology beyond the lesson, whether through hands-on rock collecting, research, or further interactive learning opportunities.

Teacher Answer Sheet

The Hall of Lost Crystals (Multiple Choice)

1. What is a mineral?
   ✅ A) A naturally occurring, non-living solid with a specific structure.

2. Which tool is used to test a mineral’s hardness?
   ✅ A) Mohs Hardness Scale.

3. If a mineral has a shiny, metallic appearance, what property are you observing?
   ✅ A) Luster.

4. Which mineral property is tested by rubbing the mineral on an unglazed tile?
   ✅ A) Streak.

5. A mineral sample breaks into smooth, flat pieces along a pattern. What property is this showing?
   ✅ A) Cleavage.

The Rock Cycle Lab (True or False)

1. Igneous rocks form when magma or lava cools and hardens.
   ✅ True

2. Sedimentary rocks are formed by layers of rock and sediment being pressed together over time.
   ✅ True

3. The rock cycle only moves in one direction, and rocks never change back into previous forms.
   ✅ False

4. Metamorphic rocks form when rocks are exposed to high heat and pressure deep within Earth.
   ✅ True

5. Weathering and erosion are the same process and always happen at the same time.
   ✅ False

The Meteorite Vault Heist (Multiple Choice)

1. What causes rocks to break down into smaller pieces over time?
   ✅ A) Weathering.

2. Which natural force is most responsible for moving sediment from one place to another?
   ✅ A) Erosion.

3. Which of the following is a common way minerals are used in everyday life?
   ✅ A) Quartz is used in making watches.

4. How does water contribute to weathering and erosion?
   ✅ A) It wears away rocks and carries sediment.

5. Why do some meteorites contain minerals not commonly found on Earth?
   ✅ A) They come from space, where different minerals form.