Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn
Private investigators ask “why” a
lot. They do this because they want
to understand the reason, purpose,
or cause of something. Private investi-
gators gather evidence and facts
about a case. They attempt to answer
questions by following where the
clues lead them. They make discovery
after discovery, following an unknown
path rather than a path well traveled.
We ask you now, do you have what
it takes to be a “private eye?” Can
you follow a case from beginning
to end, accepting the fact that as you
make one discovery, answer one
question, it only leads you to another?
If you think you are ready, if you think
you have what it takes, turn the
page and join the Private Whys?
Investigation Agency!
RReemmeemmbbeerr,,
follow the
cclluueess,,
gather
tthhee ffaaccttss,,study the
eevviiddeennccee,,and be patient.
With these rules in mind, you are well
on your way to solving this
PPrriivvaattee WWhhyyss??
CCaassee!!
Written by
Deanna Blackmon, Sandy Hughes, Ruthanne Thompson, EdD
Produced by
UNT Elm Fork Education Center, Denton, TXCopper Development Association, New York, NY
Illustrated by
Karen Dorff
Classroom teachers may reproduce copies of this book for classroom use only.
<2 Private Whys?
Clue:
Good private investigators know
that they have to keep all of their
information organized if they are
to solve the case. So, get a file
folder and label it your Case File.
As you gather Case Notes and
Case Illustrations, place those in
your Case Files as well...
ave you ever wondered what the earth is made of?
Do you suppose you are made of the same stuff as the earth?
Do you think we can figure it out?
Where should we begin?
How about beginning our investigation with YOU!
Well, we know the earth is made up of a complex interaction of
air, water, soil, and life. Right? We also know that you consist of a
complex system of skin, muscle, bone, and blood. Now, you might
ask, what are air, water, soil, and life made of?
That is a tricky question. Just as tricky as
questions about what makes up your skin,
muscles, bones, and blood. So, let’s start
there. What makes up the human body?
Here are examples of four major parts of
the human body:
AArree yyoouu mmaaddee
ooff tthhee ssaammee
ssttuuffff aass
tthhee eeaarrtthh
What’s In Me?
H
Private Whys? <3
* SSkkiinn:: a thick layer made of tough, fibrous connective tissue.
The tissue is filled with blood, nerves, sweat glands, and
oil glands.
* MMuusscclleess:: specialized tissues that help you move. The tissues
are filled with blood and nerves.
* BBoonneess:: formed by connective tissue to provide support and
form to create the skeleton of your body. Bones store minerals
and supply calcium and phosphorous to the blood.
* BBlloooodd:: liquid tissue that carries organic and inorganic nutrients
and oxygen to the cells in the body and carries carbon dioxide
and other wastes away from the cells of the body.
What do all four of these have in common? They are all made up
of _________________ , which are a bunch of cells working together!
EExxcceelllleenntt!! WWee’’rree ddoonnee.. RRiigghhtt?? WWrroonngg!!
Now we might ask “What are tissues made of?” Well, tissues are
“built” using the inorganic and organic nutrients carried by
the blood. You probably know inorganic and organic nutrients by
their common name – food. The food you eat contains organic
nutrients, like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It also contains
inorganic nutrients, like water, minerals, and vitamins. What is your
favorite food? _________________ Do you think you could eat just
your favorite food every day and stay healthy?_________________
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may
not agree with you! As a matter of fact, the USDA has established
rules and guidelines for the nutrient amounts a person should eat
Fact:Allan Pinkerton is known as the
father of private investigation.
The company logo for the
Pinkerton Agency was the
“all-seeing eye.” Many believe
this is where the term “private
eye” came from!
<4 Private Whys?
Clue:
Food provides the raw materials
for growth and maintenance,
and it supplies the fuel for
energy. By this definition, water,
minerals, and vitamins can be
considered food.
each day to live a healthy life. The amount and type of nutrients
a person needs changes with the age and sex of the person. The
United States government provides a list with the amount of
vitamins and minerals you need to consume each day. This list
is called the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA. You need
this amount daily because your body uses the vitamins and
minerals throughout the day to keep your tissues functioning
and you healthy. So the vitamins and minerals need to be replaced
every day.
Do you know your recommended daily amounts of minerals?
Let’s use our problem-solving skills and find out!
TThhee RRDDAA aanndd MMee!!
AgeGroups
0 – 6Months 210 mg .0002 mg .2 mg .27 mg 30 mg 2 mg
270 mg .0055 mg .22 mg 11 mg 75 mg 3 mg
500 mg .011 mg .34 mg 7 mg 80 mg 3 mg
800 mg .015 mg .44 mg 10 mg 130 mg 3 mg
1300 mg1300 mg
.025 mg
.021 mg.7 mg.7 mg
8 mg8 mg
240 mg240 mg
8 mg8 mg
1300 mg1300 mg
.035 mg
.024 mg.89 mg.89 mg
11 mg15 mg
410 mg360 mg
11 mg9 mg
7 – 12Months
1 – 3Years
4 – 8Years
9 – 13YearsMaleFemale
14 – 18YearsMaleFemale
RDA of Calcium Chromium Copper Iron Magnesium Zinc
Private Whys? <5
In recent years, RDA information has been revised and is now
included as part of the Dietary Reference Intakes or DRI. Using
the RDA information provided from the previous page, how much
of each of the six minerals should your body have used in the first
four years of your life?
1. The RDA is always presented as a daily amount. How many
days are in a year? _________________
2. The RDA divides the first year of an infant’s life into 0 to 6
months and 7 to 12 months. To find out how many days are in
each of these time periods, divide the number of days in a
year by two. _________________
3. Multiply the answer in #2 by the RDA in the 0 – 6 month row
for calcium. _________________ Multiply the answer in #2 by
the RDA in the 7 – 12 month row for calcium. _________________
4. Add the two answers in #3 together. _________________ This is
the amount of calcium you should have ingested and used in
your first year of life.
5. How many milligrams of calcium do you need each day
from the age of one to three? _________________ x 365 days per
year = _________________ . Multiply your total by three to get
the amount for three years. _________________
6. Add the total from #4 to the final total in #5 to get the amount
of calcium you should have ingested and used by your fourth
birthday. _________________
7. There are 453,600 milligrams in a pound. Divide the milligram
amount by 453,600 to find the amount of calcium in pounds
that you should have ingested in your first four years of life.
_________________
Fact:Most foods, even candy bars,
have “Nutrition Facts” on their
packaging. The “Nutrition Facts”
list for each food names the
specific vitamins and minerals
contained in that food.
Congratulations! On this page,
you have discovered your first
piece of evidence. When you
have completed the questions,
place this evidence in your
Case File.
Case File:
<6 Private Whys?
Fact:Did you know that the mineral
zinc, found in humans, is also
found in fireworks? Zinc powder
gives off an intense white light
that burns brilliantly in air. So
zinc helps human bodies heal
and helps make fireworks both
bright and beautiful!
NNooww tthhaatt yyoouu kknnooww hhooww mmuucchh ccaallcciiuumm yyoouu sshhoouulldd
hhaavvee iinnggeesstteedd dduurriinngg yyoouurr ffiirrsstt ffoouurr yyeeaarrss,,
ddoo yyoouu tthhiinnkk yyoouu ccoouulldd ffiinndd tthhee ffiirrsstt 44 yyeeaarr
aammoouunnttss ooff aannyy ooff tthhee ootthheerr mmiinneerraallss ffoorr tthhee
ssaammee aaggee rraannggee?? GGiivvee iitt aa ttrryy!!
In 2002, the Mineral Information Institute (www.mii.org) in
Golden, Colorado, published an interesting diagram. It shows the
amount of minerals, metals, and fuels a person will need in his or
her lifetime!
Minerals in Milligrams
Chromium
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
Minerals in Pounds
Chromium
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
Private Whys? <7
Do you think you have used these minerals? _________
How many do you think you have consumed? _________
How much of each would you guess? _________
Round and record all of the amounts to the nearest hundred.
Then, create a graph that shows the rounded amounts
of copper, zinc, aluminum, and lead. Be sure to record all informa-
tion in your Case Notes. Don’t forget to include your graph in
Case Illustrations.
1,615 lbs. Copper
1,458 Troy oz. Gold
561,448 lbs. Coal
22,224 lbs. Phosphate Rock
4,999 lbs. Bauxite (Aluminum)
923 lbs. Lead
32,990 lbs. Iron Ore
5.7 million cu. ft. of Natural Gas
64,750 lbs. Cement
80,454 gallons of Petroleum
1.62 million lbs. Stone, Sand, Gravel
846 lbs. Zinc
29,530 lbs. Salt
21,148 lbs. Clays
+49,601 lbs. Other Minerals and Metals
EEvveerryy AAmmeerriiccaann BBoorrnn WWiillll NNeeeedd::
33..55 mmiilllliioonn ppoouunnddss ooff mmiinneerraallss,, mmeettaallss,, aanndd ffuueellss iinn aa lliiffeettiimmee
A
Why do you think the USDA says that youneed to have minerals in your body?
WWhhaatt ddoo
mmiinneerraallss ddoo
ffoorr mmee
<8 Private Whys?
he foods you eat provide your body with all the nutrients
you need to stay healthy. Below is an example of a meal with an
explanation of how the minerals you take in help your body.
Dinner Is Served!
Iron helps with the
formation of blood. Iron can
be found in meat, poultry,
eggs, nuts, and breads.
Chromium helps keep blood
sugar levels normal. It can be found in
poultry, cheese, and some cereals.
Clue:
Get a copy of the Food Guide
Pyramid. One source for this
pyramid can be found at
www. usda.gov/news/usdakids.
The Pyramid will provide you
with all the evidence you need
to solve this part of the case!
T
Private Whys? <9
Clue:
Food Pyramid Game
www.dairycouncilofca.org/
activities/pyra_main.htm
Zinc is important for body growth
and tissue repair and helps fight
disease. It can be found in red meats
and seafood as well as cheese,
peanut butter, and cereals.
Magnesium is important
for muscle relaxation and blood
clotting. It is found in green leafy
vegetables, nuts, meats, milk,
and starches.
Calcium makes up your
bones and keeps them strong.
Calcium can be found in milk,
cheese, and breads.
Copper helps create connective tissues,
maintains a healthy immune system and blood
vessels, and helps with the normal formation of the
brain. It can be found in beef, shellfish, nuts, whole
grain products, and cocoa products.
<10 Private Whys?
Clue:
The Food Guide Pyramid Game
(Interactive)
kidshealth.org/kid/
stay_healthy/food/pyramid.html
NNooww iitt’’ss yyoouurr ttuurrnn!! CChhaarrtt yyoouurr ffaavvoorriittee mmeeaall!!
Begin by thinking of all your favorite foods. Are you hungry?
Record four or five foods that would make a delicious supper
for you and your family to enjoy. Try to choose foods that would
build a perfect food guide pyramid. Don’t remember your food
pyramid? Check it out at different Web sites such as
www.usda.gov/news/usdakids. Record your food items in your
Case Notes.
1. _____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________
DDoo yyoouu tthhiinnkk yyoouurr mmeeaall ccoonnttaaiinnss aa vvaarriieettyy ooff
mmiinneerraallss??
Let’s find out. Use resource books or Web sites such as
www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/cfs.htm#5 (scroll down to Foods
and Nutrition; then click on Vitamins and Minerals in the Food
Guide Pyramid) to discover what nutrients are present in
different foods.
Record the different nutrients next to the food items you listed
above. Do you think your meal would be considered a balanced
meal? Why or why not?
Do you need to make any changes to your meal to make it
more balanced? If so, record what needs to be changed in your
Case Notes.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
A
Private Whys? <11
Using construction paper, create a place mat with a plate, silver-
ware, and napkin. Illustrate your meal on the plate. Record the
minerals provided by each food item in the margin of the plate or
place mat.
To investigate further, record your meals and their nutrients for
an entire week. Create a chart. List the days of the week across the
top of your paper and write breakfast, lunch, and dinner down the
side. Make your columns and rows large enough that you can list
food items and the nutrients they provide.
Are you getting the minerals you need?
Okay, so now we have evidence that shows us that we need
these things called minerals, and we understand that we bring them
into our bodies every day when we eat, but...
. . . what are minerals?
Lit.Connection:Vitamins and Minerals: A True
Book – Joan Kalbacken
<12 Private Whys?
WWhhaatt aarree
mmiinneerraallss,,
aannyywwaayy
n the previous activity, we learned about six minerals that our
bodies need to stay healthy. But, really and truly, what are minerals,
anyway? Well, minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solid
elements or chemical compounds with crystal-like structures. The
six minerals we have been studying are all elements, meaning that
they are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler
substances by chemical or physical means, but… some of these
minerals are so unsteady that they are rarely found in nature in their
elemental form. If an element is unsteady in nature, it will quickly
combine with one or more other elements to form compounds.
Compounds are pure substances that can be broken down into
simpler substances through a chemical change.
Let’s observe some common compounds, which contain the six
elemental minerals we have been studying.
((CCaallcciiuumm,, CChhrroommiiuumm,, CCooppppeerr,, IIrroonn,, MMaaggnneessiiuumm,,
aanndd ZZiinncc..))
It’s Like CrystalClear!
Clue:
Calcium is a great example!
Elemental calcium is so unsteady
that when it is around water
it will easily combine to form a
compound. When calcium is
open to the air, it quickly com-
bines to form a different com-
pound. Iron is another great
example! Though iron is proba-
bly the most common metal used
today, it is never found in its
elemental state.
I
Private Whys? <13
1. Antacid:
a. According to the label, which of the elemental minerals we
have been studying was used to make the antacid?
_________________
b. How many milligrams (mg) of the elemental mineral does the
antacid contain? _________________
2. Noodles:
a. According to the label, which of the elemental minerals we
have been studying can be found in noodles?
_________________
b. What is the daily value of this elemental mineral? _______________
3. Milk of magnesia:
a. According to the label, which of the elemental minerals we
have been studying can be found in milk of magnesia?
________________
b. What has been added to the elemental mineral?
________________
4. Zinc lozenges:
a. According to the label, which of the elemental minerals we
have been studying can be found in the zinc lozenges?
_________________
b. How many milligrams (mg) of the elemental mineral do the
lozenges contain? _________________
5. Eye shadow:
a. According to the label, which of the elemental minerals we
have been studying can be found in eye shadow?
_________________, _________________, _________________
b. Are the minerals in pure elemental form or are they combined
with other elements to form compounds? _________________
Case File:
<14 Private Whys?
We can see, then, that elemental minerals can be found in
lots of different places and that they can take a variety of forms
depending on how they are combined with other elements.
But not all minerals are unstable. Copper is an example of a
stable elemental mineral. Though it does corrode slowly when
exposed to air, it is so stable that we can use it as a great example
for demonstrating the different physical forms an elemental mineral
can take. Unlike calcium or some of the other unsteady
elemental minerals, copper does not have to grab another element
to form a compound to make itself steady. Copper can readily be
found in the following forms:
a) grains f) strips
b) native nuggets g) foil
c) powder h) tube
d) wire i) sheet
e) shot
And though we can see that the form copper is in may be differ-
ent, the copper itself is still copper.
This is not to say that copper cannot combine with other ele-
ments to form compounds. It certainly can, and does. Take a look
at some copper sulfate crystals. Here, copper (Cu) has combined
with sulfur (S) and oxygen (O). Copper, sulfur, and oxygen are all
elements, but they have combined to form the compound
copper sulfate.
Fact:Some minerals, such as garnet,
form over hundreds of thousands
of years, as heat and pressure
gradually change the rock.
Olivine crystals, however,
can grow several yards in a
single hour!
Private Whys? <15
Though we have been focusing on the six elemental minerals,
have you noticed that there are a whole lot of other elements?
Do you think other people have wondered about these other
elements as well? _________________ If you answered yes, you
are correct! As a matter of fact, there are more than 85 naturally
occurring elements that we know about today!
I bet some of us have become confused just trying to under-
stand the six elemental minerals that we have been studying. Can
you imagine trying to keep more than 85 straight?
Lit.Connection:Rocks and Minerals, a What
About? Book by Keith Lye. Or
Rocks and Minerals, a DK
Eyewitness: Explorer book by
Steve Parker. Do you think it would bechallenging to keep all
these elements organized?
<16 Private Whys?
HHooww ccaann
wwee kkeeeepp
eelleemmeennttss
oorrggaanniizzeedd
Clue:
A great place to find a really
cool and interactive version
of the Periodic Table is:
www.webelements.com
cientists have organized all known elements into a table called
the ppeerriiooddiicc ttaabbllee ooff eelleemmeennttss.. Every element is repre-
sented by a symbol and has an atomic number. For example, calci-
um is an element represented by the symbol Ca and has an atomic
number of 20. Chromium is an element represented by the symbol
Cr and has an atomic number of 24.
Using the periodic table on the next page, can you find the
symbol and atomic number for the other four elemental minerals
we have been studying?
Elementary, My Dear Watson!
Elemental Mineral Symbol Atomic Number
Calcium Ca 20
Chromium Cr 24
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
S
Case File:
Private Whys? <17
Though there are more than 85 naturally occurring elements,
there are millions of different compounds. Remember, compounds
are formed when two or more elements are combined. What ele-
ments have been combined to form the compound water (H2O)?
2 atoms of _________________ 1 atom of _________________
How about salt (NaCl)?
1 atom of _________________ 1 atom of _________________
How about calcium carbonate (an antacid tablet) CaCO3?
1 atom of _________________ 1 atom of _________________
3 atoms of _________________
Scientists have been making discoveries about modern elements
and compounds since the 1700s. Do you think there are more
discoveries to be made? _________________
Do you think you could create your own compounds?
Fact:Although the world (and every-
thing in it) appears to be pretty
complicated, the truth is that
all things are actually made of
a small number of chemical
elements.
Lit. Connection:Periodic Table of Comic Books
www.uky.edu/projects/chemcomics/
Check out this fun Web site to see
what The Doom Patrol, Uncle Scrooge,
Superman, and copper all have in
common!
K19
Ca20
Ti22
V23
Cr24
Zn30
Ga31
Ge32
As33
Mn25
Fe26
Co27
Ni28
Cu29
Se34
Br35
Kr36
Sr38
Zr40
Nb41
Mo42
Cd48
In49
Sn50
Sb51
Tc43
Ru44
Rh45
Pd46
Ag47
Te52
I53
Xe54
Ba56
Hf72
Sc21
Y39
Lu71
Ta73
W74
Hg80
Tl81
Pb82
Bi83
Re75
Os76
Ir77
Pt78
Au79
Po84
At85
Rn86
H1
Li3
Na11
He2
Ne10
Ar18
Rb37
Cs55
Mg12
Be4
Cl17
F9
S16
O8
P15
N7
Si14
C6
Al13
B5
<18 Private Whys?
CCoouulldd ppaassttaa
ppiieecceess bbee
ppuutt ttooggeetthheerr
ttoo ffoorrmm aa
ccoommppoouunndd
1. The pipe cleaners and pasta represent elements. You will put the
elements together to form compounds. Using no more than two
letters, create symbols for the following elements:
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
PIPE CLEANER PIPE CLEANER PASTA PASTA PASTA
2. Let’s say that you gave the symbol RRee to a red pipe cleaner and
WWhh to wheel pasta.
If you placed a wheel pasta on a red pipe cleaner, the formula
of this combination of elements could be RReeWWhh.
If you add another wheel pasta, the formula would be RReeWWhh22
because you have one red pipe cleaner (Re) and two wheel
pastas (Wh2).
What would the formula be if you added a tube (Tu)
pasta? ______________
Compound Creations
Clue:
Though bronze is a combination
of molten copper and molten
tin, the two do not chemically
bond together, so they are
considered a mixture or alloy,
not a compound.
Private Whys? <19
3. Use the pipe cleaners and pasta to form compounds. Fill in the
headings on the chart using the symbols, which you created in
step one. For each compound, record which color pipe cleaner
and how many of each pasta you used, then write the formula.
CCoommppoouunndd FFoorrmmuullaass
How are your formulas similar to those used by scientists? Explain.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
PIPE CLEANER PIPE CLEANER PASTA PASTA PASTA FORMULA
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
Did you have a hard time deciding what namesand/or symbols to give your elements?
Case File:
<20 Private Whys?
HHooww ddoo
sscciieennttiissttss
ddeecciiddee wwhhaatt
ttoo nnaammee
aa cchheemmiiccaall
ccoommppoouunndd
Clue:
The chemical name of a
compound comes from the
elements that are found
in that compound.
n the chart below you will find a couple of common, everyday
compounds broken down into the elements that make up
the compound.
Gather some “mystery” household items. Place them on a table.
Examine each of the items. Each item is made of different
compounds made up of groups of elements. Each mmyysstteerryy iitteemm
has a chemical name, which tells what elements are combined to
form it (like the pasta molecules you made)!
Use the lliisstt ooff iinnggrreeddiieennttss ((eelleemmeennttss)) and the
ppeerriiooddiicc ttaabbllee to write a formula for each mystery item.
Become A Compound
Code Cracker
CommonCompound
Water 2 1 H2O
Salt
HHydrogen
OOxygen
NaSodium
ClChlorine Formula
NaCl1 1
I
Private Whys? <21
Record your formulas below. Then write your best guess as to what
the mystery item is.
FFOORRMMUULLAA WWHHAATT IISS IITT??
Mystery item 1______________________ ________________________
Mystery item 2______________________ ________________________
Mystery item 3______________________ ________________________
Mystery item 4______________________ ________________________
LLiisstt ooff iinnggrreeddiieennttss ((eelleemmeennttss))
IItteemm 11:: 12 atoms carbon, 22 atoms hydrogen, 11 atoms oxygen
IItteemm 22:: sodium, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, oxygen, oxygen
IItteemm 33:: silicone, oxygen, oxygen
IItteemm 44:: copper, sulfur, oxygen, oxygen, oxygen, oxygen,
5 molecules of hydrogen, hydrogen, oxygen
Does the periodic table provide other information about elements?
Fact:A Group is made up of all the
elements in a single column in
the periodic table. Elements in
the same group (column) share
some common characteristics.
Case File:
<22 Private Whys?
MMoorree
iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn
ffrroomm tthhee
ppeerriiooddiicc
ttaabbllee
Clue:
Though elements are in their
simplest form, they too are made
up of something. They are made
of tiny little things called atoms.
Atoms are the smallest unit of
an element and contain protons
(positive charges), neutrons
(neutral or no charge), and elec-
trons (negative charges). Every
element in the periodic table
has an atomic number, which
tells how many protons are in
the atoms of that element.
agic squares have been around for a long time. Fill in the
numbers that cause the square to
have the same sum no matter
which direction you add. For this
one, use numbers 1 – 9. (This first
one is easy!)
The mmaaggiicc ssuumm is
____________ .
Use the periodic table to find which element has this sum
as its atomic number. ________________________
Is this element a metal? _________________
How did you find this information? _________________
Atomic Math
66
88
55
33
22
M
TTrryy aannootthheerr oonnee................
This time you will use numbers 1 – 16. The mmaaggiicc ssuumm is the
atomic number of selenium. The atomic number of selenium is
_________________ . The symbol for selenium is _________________ .
Here are some hints to get you started. The top left
corner is the atomic number of hydrogen.
H = _________________ . The square, which is over three
and up three from the bottom line, is the atomic number
for carbon. C = _________________ . The bottom left
corner is the atomic number for Al, which stands for
_________________ The atomic number for Al is
_________________ . Is Al a metal? _________________
The square directly above Al is 8. This is the atomic
number for what element? ___________________ Is this a metal?
_________________ The top right corner is the atomic number for
beryllium. Beryllium’s symbol is _________________ . The atomic
number for beryllium is _________________ . The square above
carbon is 15, which is the atomic number for _________________ .
Hint – Remember, use each number only once!
Wow, we have discovered a lot about elements and compounds, and
to think it all started with the minerals we have in our own bodies!
Do you think elemental minerals have been used for other things besides helping to keep us healthy?
Private Whys? <23
Case File:
<24 Private Whys?
WWhheenn ddiidd
hhuummaannss ffiirrsstt
bbeeggiinn uussiinngg
ssoommee ooff tthhee
eelleemmeennttaall
mmiinneerraallss
Clue:
The early history of humans is
divided into periods that are
named after the main materials
that were used to make tools!
hroughout the ages, humans have collected and used minerals
for things like weapons, tools, jewelry, and religious artifacts.
Historians have divided the past into a number of periods called
ages, based on the use of certain rocks and minerals. From these
time periods we can trace the history of our past.
Timeline of Ages
* 1800s to present
* began with invention of
telegraph, then telephone
* 1980 – silicon chip – computers,
cars, airplanes, video games
INDUSTRIAL AGE
* 1750 – 1900s
* fuel discovered in the Earth’s
crust powers machinery
- coal and steam – 1750
- oil – 1850
- uranium – 1950
* rise of factories and use of
complex machinery
* 1200 B.C. to 1700s
* nomads mined iron from rock
* used to replace bronze in
weapons and tools – stronger
* approximately 2.5 million
years ago up to approximately
6000 B.C.
* stone used as main raw
material for tools
* about 6000 B.C. until
3500 B.C.
* discovery of first metal mineral:
copper
* used for tools, weapons,
utensils
* 3500 B.C. – 1200 B.C.
* discovery that combining tin
(Sn) with copper (Cu) formed
an even stronger metal
* bronze weapons would defeat
copper weapons
Stone Age Copper Age Bronze Age
Iron Age Industrial Age Information Age
T
Private Whys? <25
TTrraacciinngg HHiissttoorryy
You and your group members will gather information on one of the
time periods using resource books, encyclopedias, and the Internet.
Based on this information, create a report to present to your class-
mates which will include a written report, an oral report, a model
of a tool or weapon from your time period, and a visual aid of some
kind (poster, chart, brochure, diagram, newsletter, collage, etc.).
TTiimmee oonn aa LLiinnee
Create a time line showing the six ages, adding illustrations
appropriate to each period. For example, for the Information Age,
you could draw a computer, car, etc. Ages should be in correct
chronological order and should be clearly labeled.
IInn YYoouurr CCaassee NNootteess,, PPrreeddiicctt tthhee NNeexxtt AAggee
It’s possible that we are on the brink of a “new” age. What might
that age be? In your Case Notes, predict what this next age might
be called and what will distinguish it as a new era.
The next “age” might be The ________________ Age.
What is significant about this age?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
As we have learned, we have changed throughout the ages. Why
have we done this?
A
Why didn’t we simply continue using stone as our main material for tools?
Take manila paper and illustrate
this new age. Be sure to label it at
the top and to include specifics
about your “new age.” Do you
think you would want to include
things such as buildings, tools,
people, vehicles, bridges, chil-
dren at play, etc.?
Fact:In ancient times, salt was
considered a treasure worth
more than gold!
Lit.Connection:The Stone Age: A Find Out About
book – Charlotte Hurdman
<26 Private Whys?
WWhhyy ddiiddnn’’tt
wwee ssttaayy
wwiitthh SSttoonnee
AAggee ttoooollss
Clue:
18 gauge wire cut in 6-inch
lengths is best for this
investigation.
great deal of time has passed from the Stone Age to the
Information Age. Why did humans find it necessary to change the
materials they used to make their tools? What is the main tool
of the Information Age? Is it possible that the Information Age is
humankind’s final age? To help you think about these questions,
you will use creative problem-solving with a small group of
students. Your group will be given a variety of household tools to
conduct a creative problem-solving activity. The materials will
include: clay, a rolling pin, a rock to represent the Stone Age, a
copper wire to represent the Copper Age, a bronze wire to repre-
sent the Bronze Age, and an iron wire to represent the Iron Age.
1. Using a rolling pin, roll out the clay to a 1/2 inch thickness.
2. Choose a tool from a particular Age and holding the tool an
inch away from the cutting end, cut a small circle and then a
square out of the clay.
The Tool Man
A
Private Whys? <27
Which wire tool bent the least? _________________
Which wire tool bent the most? _________________
Which tool was the most difficult for cutting shapes?
___________________________________________________________
Why was it difficult? ________________________________________
Do some materials make better tools for cutting?
___________________________________________________________
Which one was the best? _________________
Were all these materials available to Stone Age humans?
___________________________________________________________
Why do you think humankind changed the materials they used to
make tools? _________________________________________________
In the case of cutting, we observed that some minerals made better
tools than others, didn’t we? We also have to consider how difficult
it might have been to shape these materials into tools as well, don’t
you think? A rock is really solid and was a good tool for a number
of jobs, but… would it have been easy to shape or bend? Do you
think this was a factor influencing humans to look for different
materials to use for tools? Also, would there have been other jobs
to do, besides cutting? Have you ever wondered about some of
the other ways in which the minerals we have been studying have
been used?
What were some of the ways these minerals were used?
Fact:Gold, silver, and copper were
the first metals used because
they can be found in their
elemental state.
Fact:Since 10,000 B.C., copper has
been used to make jewelry, but
as you discovered, it is too soft
to make a good tool!
Lit.Connection:Ice Mummy: A Step Into Reading
book – Mark Dubowski and
Cathy East Dubowski. Rocks,
Fossils, And Arrowheads: A Take-
Along Guide – Laura Evert.
Case File:
<28 Private Whys?
ead the book The Copper Lady, paying close attention to any
unfamiliar words, the illustrations, and the dates and places men-
tioned. Even though parts of the book are factual, the story itself is
fiction, which means it is not a true story.
Who is the main character of the book?________________________
What are three facts about this character?
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
Write one sentence that tells about the beginning of the story.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Write a second sentence that tells something important about the
middle of the story.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Clue:
SSuummmmaarriizzaattiioonn
A summary tells briefly what the
book is about. A good summary
will tell something about the
beginning, the middle, and the
end of the book. To write a good
summary, first determine who the
main character is. Next you should
think about what important events
occur in the story. Then think of
a sentence that tells something
about the beginning, another one
for the middle, and a third one
for the end of the story. Finally,
to actually write it out, you can
use the key words SOMEBODY,
WANTED, BUT, SO, THEN.
HHooww wweerree
tthheessee
mmiinneerraallss
uusseedd The Copper Lady
by Alice Ross and Kent Ross
R
Private Whys? <29
Last, write a sentence that tells what happens at the end of
the story.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Now you are ready to write a summary. Using the above informa-
tion, complete the outline below:
SSOOMMEEBBOODDYY (main character)
_______________________________________
WWAANNTTEEDD (What is the most important thing this person wanted or
tried to do?)
____________________________________________________________
BBUUTT (Why couldn’t he have it, or what kept him from doing it?)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
SSOO (What was the solution?)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
TTHHEENN (How did the story end?)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Obviously, you can’t have one sentence that is this long. It’s
time to edit! Rewrite your summary in your Case Notes. Make
sure you have three to four elaborated sentences using the correct
punctuation.
How do scientists keep all these elements organized?
A
Fact:The 25 windows in the crown
of the Statue of Liberty represent
the “natural minerals” of
the earth.
Lit.Connection:The Copper Lady by Alice Ross –
for young readers or for older
readers; Warrior Scarlet – a novel
by Rosemary Sutcliff
Take a piece of 9x12 manila
paper and fold it in half, short
ends together. Turn this like a
book jacket. Open the jacket and
use the inside to write a summary
for your book. On the front,
illustrate the book and include
the name of the book as well as
its author.
Case File:
<30 Private Whys?
WWhheerree
aarree aallll
tthhee
mmiinneerraallss
here are minerals on every continent. To find mineral deposit
locations in the United States, use the following map from
http://nationalatlas.gov/. Once at the site, click on the oval that states
“Click Here to Make Maps.” On the right, under “Basic Maps,” click
on the + symbol in front of the word Geology. Scroll down to the
section that says “Mineral Operations” and place a check mark in
the box for Nonferrous Metal Mines. Finally, click anywhere on the
map to the left of your screen and there you have it – the locations
of all the Nonferrous Metal Mines in the United States! As a matter
of fact, if you select a mine (marked by an x), and then click on
“Identify” on the blue tool bar, a
variety of information will appear
concerning the particular mine
you have selected. You are given the
exact location of the mine, the name
of the mine, the name of the town where
the mine is located, what material is being
mined, etc.
Let’s Take A Trip!
Clue:
If the “Zoom In” bar is highlighted,
each time you click on an X you
will be taken closer and closer to
where the “X” marks the spot!
T
Private Whys? <31
UUssiinngg tthhee WWeebb ssiittee aass aa ttooooll::
Can you find the closest mine to your school?
___________________________________________________________
What kind of a mine is it?
___________________________________________________________
Use an atlas to find the approximate distance in miles from where
the mine is located and where your school is located.
___________________________________________________________
Which mine is the farthest from your school?
___________________________________________________________
Use an atlas to find the approximate distance in miles from where
the mine is located and where your school is located.
___________________________________________________________
What mineral is being mined at the mine you selected?
___________________________________________________________
Which state appears to have the most mines?
___________________________________________________________
What are the names of some of the minerals being mined in the
state with the most mines?
___________________________________________________________
Which state has the fewest?
___________________________________________________________
Does your state have any mines? ______________________________
Okay, so we see where the minerals are located, but how did they get there?
Fact:Ferrous means of or
containing iron.
Fact:People often mine chalcopyrite
and heat it to remove the copper
crystals. The copper is then
used to make copper water pipes
or copper wires that conduct
electricity.
Lit.Connection:Earth’s Hidden Treasures –
Sandra Downs
Case File:
<32 Private Whys?
HHooww aarree
mmiinneerraall
ddeeppoossiittss
ffoorrmmeedd
Clue:
Check out www.enchanted
learning.com/subjects/astronomy/
planets/earth/inside.html for
more information and cool
pictures about our earth!
he Earth is made of four layers. The outer layer of the Earth is
called the crust, and it is what we live on. Next is the mantle; it is
solid and rocky. Some portions of the mantle at the outer edges are
molten. This allows the edge of the mantle to be flexible, similar to
plastic. The outer core is next, followed by the inner core. The
outer core is molten material that is thought to contain large
amounts of iron and nickel. The inner core is a solid iron-rich core.
Earth’s Layers
Using red, blue, green, and orange dough, we can make a model of
the Earth’s layers.
1. Form a small sphere of red dough (approxi-
mately the size of a marble).
2. Form a larger sphere of blue dough. Flatten
this sphere and wrap it around the red
sphere. Pinch off the extra dough and smooth
it by rolling the sphere between your hands.
The Whole World In
Our Hands!
CRUST
MANTLE
OUTER CORE
INNER CORE
T
Private Whys? <33
3. Form a larger sphere of orange dough. Flatten this sphere and
wrap it around the blue sphere. Remember to pinch off the
extra dough and smooth.
4. Form a larger sphere of green dough. Flatten this sphere and
wrap it around the orange sphere. Remember to pinch off the
extra dough and smooth.
5. Use a blunt cutting edge to slice the model in half. Observe and
identify the layers:
Green dough represents: _____________________________________
Orange dough represents: ____________________________________
Blue dough represents: ______________________________________
Red dough represents: _______________________________________
When you cut the Earth model in half, what happened to the layers
of the Earth? The layers smeared into other layers, didn’t they. This
can happen within the Earth, as well as your model.
You see, mineral deposits, like copper for instance, are formed
when molten material from the outer core forces itself into the
mantle rocks. The molten material begins to cool and harden into
igneous rocks. Rain falls and is soaked into the soil. The water is
heated as it approaches the hot igneous rocks. Copper and other
minerals are then leached into the water. The mineral-rich water
moves back toward the Earth’s surface. The water cools and
the minerals are deposited in large amounts around the rocks.
Often, years of erosion take place before the mineral deposits
become exposed.
So, now we have discovered how the minerals collect and
form deposits.
How do you suppose we get the minerals out?
Fact:The most common metals in
the Earth’s crust are: aluminum,
potassium, iron, calcium,
sodium, and magnesium.
<34 Private Whys?
HHooww aarree
mmiinneerraallss
rreemmoovveedd
ffrroomm tthhee
eeaarrtthh
ining is the process of taking minerals from the earth and has
occurred for centuries. Over 5,000 years ago, on the Keweenaw
Peninsula of upper Michigan, people found outcrops of native
(solid) copper. A fire would be started beneath the copper until it
was soft enough that stone hammers could break off pieces. Mining
has changed a lot since then.
There are two types of mining: surface mining and
underground mining. There are several types of surface
mining. You will study two types: placer and open-pit.
Placer mining can be used to find gold or tin in an area
where water is available. During the gold rush of the 1800s,
miners panned for gold, which is a placer mining tech-
nique. Panning requires a miner to scoop soil and water
into a pan and then shift the pan back and forth. Gold is
heavier than sand or gravel and settles to the bottom of
the pan. Sluicing uses the same idea except, instead of a
pan, the earth is shoveled into a slanted box. Water is run
through the box and the sand and gravel is washed away, while the
The Search For
Buried Treasure
M
Private Whys? <35
gold settles into grooves cut into the bottom of the box. Open-pit
mining is used to mine minerals such as copper that lie in veins of
ore (mineral-bearing rock). Machinery is used to remove rock and
soil that covers the copper deposit (called overburden). Then,
explosives are used to break up the ore-bearing rocks. The ore is
removed in horizontal layers called benches. Trucks or trains carry
the ore out of the pit.
There are many methods of underground mining. Block-caving
and room and pillar are two common underground mining meth-
ods. The block-cave method is used for minerals such as copper
and iron. Horizontal cuts are made into ore deposits so that the
weight of the deposit causes it to collapse and fall into chutes, and
large machines transport the ore out of the mine through inclined
passages called ore passes. The room-and-pillar method uses heavy
machinery and explosives to remove ore. However, parts of the ore
are left intact to form columns to support the rock and earth above.
This is the most common method of underground mining in the
USA. It is used for coal, salt, uranium, lead, and limestone.
Fact:The top ten most mined minerals
worldwide are: iron ore, phos-
phates, bauxite, chromite, copper,
zinc, manganese, titanium, lead,
and nickel.
<36 Private Whys?
Clue:
Friction is a force that opposes
motion or slows things down,
right? Since your goal here is
to slow your “car,” think about
a design that will create more
friction!
TThhee RRuunnaawwaayy MMiinndd ((mmiinnee)) TTrraaiinn
You are a miner for PPrriivvaattee WWhhyyss?? Mining. The year is 1847.
Carts would be loaded with ore by hand. It was very hard work to
push the carts uphill and out of the mine. On the trip back into the
mine, the cart would move so fast downhill that it would some-
times hit the side of a shaft and be destroyed. You have been asked
to join a small team of miners to create a set of tracks that would
allow the cart to come slowly down the shaft to a stopping point.
You will create a sample design using rolled-up newspaper, toilet
and paper towel rolls, tape, and scissors, and the cart will be repre-
sented by a marble. You can use your desks, chairs, and /or the
walls of the room to support the structure of your mine shaft.
The “cart” must move gradually down the “tracks.” Therefore, the
marble should remain in motion for at least 20 seconds.
IInn yyoouurr CCaassee NNootteess,, eevvaalluuaattee yyoouurr cchhaalllleennggee::
1. Did your team complete the challenge (marble in motion for 20
seconds)? _________________
2. What problems arose (materials, getting along, ideas) and how
were they dealt with? _____________________________________
3. What would you do differently to improve the “tracks”?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What would you do to improve how well the group worked
together? _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________
After reading a book on mining, such as Mining written
by Jane Drake, Ann Love, and Pat Cupples, write about being an
Private Whys? <37
underground miner. Write about what you might see, hear, or feel,
as the elevator takes you down into an underground mine …
WWrriittiinngg CCoonnnneeccttiioonnss::
In your Case Notes, write about all the pros and cons of being
underground in a mine shaft all day. Get creative with your ideas.
So, we now know how minerals are used, where we can
find them, and even how we can get them out of the ground, but
how do you suppose we can tell the difference among the
various minerals?
How can we tell one mineral from another?
Fact:In the early 1900s, children as
young as 10 worked for the coal
mines for 70 cents a day!
Lit.Connection:Mining: an America At Work
book – Jane Drake, Ann Love, and
Pat Cupples.
<38 Private Whys?
HHooww ccaann
wwee iiddeennttiiffyy
mmiinneerraallss
Clue:ne way a mineral can be identified is by its crystalline pattern.
Each mineral has its own unique crystal pattern. Minerals, which
are non-living materials, grow by adding atoms or compounds to
their surface in a process called crystallization. Every crystal has a
repeating pattern based on a unique shape.
DDoo yyoouu wwaanntt ttoo cchheecckk tthhiiss oouutt??
1. Get a dark sheet of construction paper.
2. Get a chalcopyrite rock and chip a small amount onto one
corner of the construction paper.
3. Get a cupric sulfate rock and chip a small amount onto a
different corner of the construction paper.
4. Sprinkle salt on another corner of the construction paper.
5. Sprinkle sugar on the final corner of the paper.
6. At each corner, write the name of each item using a white crayon.
7. Observe each item through a magnifying lens.
Most scientists agree that there are seven shapes of crystals.
Mineral Detectives!
O
Isometric crystal
Tetragonal crystal
Hexagonal crystal
Rhombohedral crystal
Fill out the chart below using the four crystals on the construction
paper.
Another cool way to check out different crystals is by going to
the following Web site: www.netspace.net.au/~mwoolley/ top.htm.
On the left side of the screen, click on About Minerals >Properties
> habit > pictures. Here you will find illustrations of the various
types of crystals. To see individual pictures of each crystal,
click Habits.
Write a description of each crystal, sketch the crystal forms, and
then name a mineral that has the listed crystal form:
CCoolluummnnaarr::
Description ________________________________________________
Mineral ____________________________________________________
RRaaddiiaattiinngg::
Description ________________________________________________
Mineral ____________________________________________________
DDeennddrriittiicc::
Description ________________________________________________
Mineral ____________________________________________________
Private Whys? <39
Illustration
of Crystal
Shape
Sugar Chalcopyrite Cupric Sulfate Salt
Fact:Chalcopyrite is one of the
minerals referred to as
“fool’s gold.”
Case File:
Orthorhombic crystal
Triclinic crystal
Monoclinic crystal
Monoclinic
Clue:
Check out
http://mineral.galleries.com
<40 Private Whys?
Fact:Diamonds are very hard
minerals, while talc is a very
soft mineral.
Now that we understand that minerals have crystalline shapes,
search out more information about the minerals we have been
studying. (You may have to start at the Habits page – good luck
with your search!)
AArree yyoouu rreeaaddyy ttoo ggrrooww yyoouurr oowwnn aalluumm ccrryyssttaallss??
1. Pour 1/2 cup of hot water from the faucet into a clean glass jar.
2. Add alum (found in the spice section of the grocery store) to
the water. Stir in approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons.
3. Loosely cover the jar and let it sit overnight.
4. The next day, pour the alum water into a second glass jar. Some
pieces of alum will be left in the first jar.
5. Tie one end of a piece of nylon or sewing thread around the
largest and best-formed piece of alum in the first jar. Tie the
other end to the center of a pencil.
6. Suspend the alum crystal into the second jar of alum water
with the pencil lying across the top of the jar. Do not let the
alum rock touch the bottom of the jar.
7. Check your growing chamber twice per day and record your
observations.
11sstt cchheecckk
Date _______Time _______Observations_______________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
RReeccoorrdd ffuurrtthheerr cchheecckkss iinn yyoouurr CCaassee NNootteess
Mineral Description of Mineral Crystal Type
Copper
Iron
Talc
Inesite
WWaanntt ttoo ttrryy aannootthheerr oonnee??
CCrryyssttaall SSttaarr::
1. Take a long pipe cleaner and shape it into a five-point star. The
star must be small enough to fit into the mouth of a wide-
mouth jar.
2. Tie one end of a 6-inch piece of string to the star and the other
end to the middle of a pencil.
3. Ask an adult to pour boiling water into the jar.
4. Immediately begin mixing Borax™ into the water until the
water is saturated (no more Borax™ will dissolve in it).
Continue stirring until it is all dissolved.
5. Lower the star into the jar.
6. Roll the string onto the pencil until the star is hanging just
above the bottom of the jar, making sure it is completely
covered by the water.
7. Let your star sit over night.
8. What do you observe? ______________________________
Break off some of the crystals and examine them with a magni-
fying lens. Notice the shape of the crystals. Draw the shape in your
Case Notes. Do you see a repeating pattern?
So, we have discovered that one way minerals can be identified
is by their crystal patterns.
Private Whys? <41
Do you think we could also use chemistry to identify minerals?
Fact:Crystals are formed when
the minerals in molten rock
gradually become a solid.
Lit.Connection:Crystals – Melissa Stewart.
AArree tthheerree
ootthheerr wwaayyss
ttoo iiddeennttiiffyy
mmiinneerraallss
<42 Private Whys?
Clue:
Try this experiment again
using different liquids. Use
water, cider vinegar, nail
polish remover, or lemon
juice. Compare your results.
nother way we can identify different minerals is by looking for
chemical changes. Remember now, elemental minerals cannot be
broken down or chemically changed into simpler forms, but…
compound minerals can be broken down through chemical
changes. Earlier, we looked at all the forms of copper and we saw
that, though it can be found in many physical forms, it always
remains the element copper. Copper can also be found combined
with other elements forming a compound. Do you want to see how
this works? In this activity you will witness the breaking down of a
compound through a chemical change caused by vinegar, and you
will be asked to examine the conditions that caused the change.
1. Tie a piece of kite string to one end of a paper clip. Put a penny
(dated before 1981) between the loops of the paper clip.
2. Place three cotton balls in the bottom of a clear jar. Add about
50 ml of vinegar to the cotton.
3. Tape the end of the string to the lid and close the jar. The
penny should hang just above the cotton balls.
Chemically Speaking
A
A
Private Whys? <43
After two days, look at the penny. What happened to it?
CCAAUUTTIIOONN:: DDOO NNOOTT OOPPEENN TTHHEE JJAARR..
WWhheenn ffiinniisshheedd,, hhaavvee aann aadduulltt hheellpp yyoouu ooppeenn
aanndd cclleeaann tthhee jjaarrss ssaaffeellyy..
Chemical changes occur around us all the time. What causes these
changes? The Statue of Liberty hasn’t always been green, of course.
This is the result of a complex chemical process during which
a new substance is formed. Depending on where you are located,
copper and gases in the atmosphere combine with water to form a
new substance on the copper surface. An example of this new com-
pound is called copper carbonate. Chemical processes like these
help scientists classify and identify elements. Physical properties
can also be used to help identify minerals.
What are physical properties?How do you think they canbe used to help us in our
investigation?
Fact:Although the U.S. penny is coat-
ed with a thin layer of copper to
retain its original color, since
1981 it has been made mostly
of zinc.
Fact:When copper is exposed to
“weather,” a chemical change
occurs and the copper turns to a
greenish color – known as a
copper patina.
<44 Private Whys?
CCaann
pprrooppeerrttiieess
bbee uusseedd ttoo
iiddeennttiiffyy
mmiinneerraallss
Clue:
Be patient! This experiment is
really a process of trial and error!
irst let’s experiment with electricity. Take one of each of the fol-
lowing supplies: one C cell battery, two 25cm copper wires, one
battery holder and two alligator clips, one small flashlight bulb and
a socket. Using these items, try to form a circuit that will cause the
flashlight bulb to glow. When you have successfully formed a cir-
cuit that lights the bulb, draw a diagram of your circuit in your
Case Notes, labeling all parts.
Now you are ready to investigate conductivity. Materials that
cause the bulb to light are called con-
ductors. Construct an open circuit using
the diagram. (You will need one extra piece of
copper wire.)
Once you’ve completed your open circuit,
gather the following test items: paper clip, alu-
minum foil, rubber band, plastic bag, wood pencil,
penny, nail, eraser, tap water in a cup, and distilled
water in a cup. Place each of the test items between the
wires of the open circuit. In your Case Notes, create a chart
and classify each object as a good conductor or a poor conductor.
A Shocking Discovery!
F
Private Whys? <45
OObbsseerrvvaattiioonnss::
WWooww,, tthheerree ssuurree aarree lloottss ooff wwaayyss ttoo iiddeennttiiffyy
mmiinneerraallss!!
Let’s look at all the eevviiddeennccee we have gathered so far.
* We know that we need to take in certain minerals to maintain
healthy bodies.
* We know that minerals are formed beneath the earth’s surface.
* We know that scientists identify where these mineral deposits
are located.
* We know that mineral types can be identified through their
properties.
* We know that some minerals are mined, and have been for a very
long time, for a variety of uses.
This is all good evidence, but… there is something missing here.
Can you see it? There are minerals in the earth, we know what they
are, where they are, and how to get to them but,
Good Conductors Poor Conductors
How do the minerals end up getting into us?
Fact:Scientists use properties of ele-
ments to classify them in various
ways. They use the property of
conductivity to classify elements
and minerals as either metals or
non-metals. Minerals that con-
duct electricity are classified as
metals. Those that don’t are
called non-metals.
<46 Private Whys?
ealthy plants, just like healthy people, require nutrients such as
zinc, copper, and iron. Plants must get these nutrients from the soil
in which they grow. So soil testing for micronutrients such as zinc,
copper, and iron has become very important to farmers. Soil testing
allows the farmer to determine the quality of the soil, which in
turn will help the farmer decide what to do to maintain the health
of crops.
Let’s investigate this for ourselves, shall we?
Choose a location for your soil test. A sample area
might be – a lawn area or a prepared flowerbed.
Collect soil samples using a soil sampling tube. Remove two
cups of the soil from six inches below the surface. Place the soil
in a clean plastic bag. Seal and label the bag with the soil location.
Farmers generally use a professional lab for their soil testing. So,
let’s mail our soil sample to a professional soil-testing laboratory as
well. Be sure to include your address, e-mail address, and phone
number so your results can be sent back to you as quickly as possi-
ble. (* Check the appendix for testing site information.)
Me And My Minerals!
Clue:
Soil is made of worn bits of rock.
H
HHooww ddoo tthhee
mmiinneerraallss
eenndd uupp
ggeettttiinngg
iinnttoo uuss
Private Whys? <47
When you receive the results from the lab, complete the
following chart:
Was copper found at any of your soil sample sites? ______________
Which ones, if any?
___________________________________________________________
Was iron found at any of your soil sample sites? _________________
Which ones, if any?
___________________________________________________________
Was zinc found at any of your soil sample sites? _________________
Which ones, if any?
___________________________________________________________
What might this say about the quality of your soil for farming?
Below is an example of a soil sample report. The acceptable range
for five micronutrients is listed, followed by an example of a farmer’s
soil sample results. The amounts are measured in parts per million
(ppm). Use the data charts to answer the following questions.
Soil Site Result for Copper Result for Iron Result for Zinc
Potassium Magnesium Zinc Iron Copper
100–150 ppm 50-70 ppm 3-6 ppm 20-30 ppm 1-1.8 ppm for sandy soils
AAcccceeppttaabbllee AAmmoouunnttss
Potassium Magnesium Zinc Iron Copper
230 ppm 276 ppm 0.6 ppm 59 ppm 0.7 ppm
AAmmoouunnttss ffoouunndd iinn FFaarrmmeerr EElleemmeenntt’’ss ssooiill ssaammpplleess
Case File:
<48 Private Whys?
1. Farmer Element would like his soil to have 125 ppm of potassi-
um. How much more potassium does Farmer Element’s soil
contain than is acceptable? _________________
2. How much copper will Farmer Element have to add to his soil
to increase his copper from 0.7 ppm to 1.5 ppm?
_________________
3. Farmer Element will have to decrease the level of magnesium
in his soil. How much will it need to be decreased if he would
like to have a level of 65 ppm? _________________
4. Farmer Element has a one-acre field with six and two-thirds
inches of soil. To find out how much iron is in the field, Farmer
Element will need to multiply the iron results in ppm by two to
change the ppm to pounds per acre.
5. How much zinc will Farmer Element have to add to his soil to
increase the amount from 0.6 ppm to 5.5 ppm.
_________________
Okay, now we have helped Farmer Element build the
proper micronutrient levels into his soil. But, how do
you think the micronutrients actually get from the soil and
into the plant? Do you have an idea? Can we test it?
Here is one experiment you can do with the help of
an adult:
* Fill a jar or glass with water.
* Add a minimum of ten drops of food coloring (blue is cool)
and stir.
* Place the cut end of a stalk of celery into the jar of water.
* Wait one hour, and then begin observing the celery regularly for
two to three days.
Private Whys? <49
In this experiment we’re pretending that the food coloring is a mix-
ture of micronutrients like zinc, copper, and iron, dissolved in water.
What happened to the celery?
IInn yyoouurr CCaassee NNootteess rreeccoorrdd yyoouurr oobbsseerrvvaattiioonnss::
This same kind of action takes place in plants that are in soil.
Okay, so micronutrients like zinc, copper, and iron dissolve in
water and are taken up through the roots of plants! That’s how the
micronutrients get into the plants! Do you want to see it again?
Here is another great experiment you can do on your own:
* Fill a jar or glass with water.
* Add four drops of food coloring (red this time?) and stir.
* Place a freshly cut white carnation into the jar.
* Observe what happens to your white carnation.
Now, what would happen if we ate this plant? Of course, as
scientists we would never eat our experiment or around our lab
equipment, but we do eat plants at home, don’t we? And do you
suppose the plants we eat have micronutrients in them just like
our experimental one had food coloring? You are right; they do! As
we eat and digest the plant, our bodies absorb the micronutrients
and begin to distribute these micronutrients throughout our bodies
to help keep us healthy!
Well, we have come full circle haven’t we? We started our investiga-
tion with you and we have ended back with you! Interesting!
Now let’s turn the page and see if you have what it takes to solve
this Private Whys Case!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Fact:Plant roots have several func-
tions. They anchor the plant to
the ground, and they absorb
water and minerals from the soil
and direct them to the stem.
<50 Private Whys?
ike all good investigations, ours began with a search for the
truth. The truth behind the question – Are you made of the same
stuff as the earth? Now that you have gathered all your evidence
and you have all your facts in order, do you think you can answer
that question? Have you solved this particular case? Let’s see what
kind of private eye you really are!!
1. What are the four major parts of the human body?
_________________ _________________
_________________ _________________
2. Name at least four minerals that we should consume in a
healthy meal.
_________________ _________________
_________________ _________________
3. Are the minerals in question two compounds or elements?
________________________
4. Where can all known elements, their symbols, and their atomic
numbers be found? ______________________________________
How Private Whys(Wise) Are You?
L
HHaavvee yyoouu
ssoollvveedd tthhee
ccaassee
Private Whys? <51
5. Why do you think humankind changed the materials they used
to make their tools?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
6. When the surface of the Statue of Liberty turned green, what
kind of change occurred? A _________________ change.
7. Label the four layers of the Earth on the diagram below:
8. Rocks form the Earth’s covering or crust and are made of
_________________ .
9. Human bodies are made up of tissues, which, in part, are
“built” by organic materials and inorganic nutrients known as
_________________ .
10. Both the Earth and human bodies are made of
_________________ . Are you made of the same stuff as the
Earth? _______________
<52 Private Whys?
Long-Term Project OptionsYou will be learning about many new things in this unit. To help you keep all of the
information organized, you will either create an illustrated dictionary or an illustrated
alphabet book of the terms, elements, or other important ideas as they are discussed in
the lessons.
A. Illustrated Dictionary:
* Choose your word. Record the word on the appropriate alphabetical location on
your paper.
* Record the part of speech.
* Think about what you learned about the word from the lesson and record the
meaning next to the word.
* Create an illustration for the entry.
IIlllluussttrraatteedd DDiiccttiioonnaarryy SSaammppllee
Element noun An element is the most basic form of a____________ (_________________) _____________________________________________Word Part of Speech Definition
substance. It cannot be broken down into anything else chemically.
Illustration:
Appendix
Private Whys? <53
Complete the illustrated dictionary worksheet pages. Cut on the dotted lines and file
pages in alphabetical order.
_________________ (_________________) _______________________________________Word Part of Speech Definition
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Illustration:
Complete the illustrated dictionary worksheet pages. Cut on the dotted lines and file
pages in alphabetical order.
_________________ (_________________) _______________________________________Word Part of Speech Definition
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Illustration:
<54 Private Whys?
B. Illustrated Alphabet Book:
* Choose your word and record it on the appropriate alphabetical location on
your paper.
* Record a minimum of three facts about the word.
* Choose the word for the letter you are currently working on.
Be creative in your word choices.
AAllpphhaabbeett BBooookk SSaammppllee
Letter, word, and three facts
“E” i s for e lement. An e lement i s the most basic form of a
substance. It cannot be broken down into anything else chemically.
Copper i s an e lemental mineral . Cocoa products contain copper .
Private Whys? <55
Complete the Illustrated Alphabet Book pages. Cut on the dotted lines and file the pages
in alphabetical order.
Letter, word, and three facts
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Illustration:
Complete the Illustrated Alphabet Book pages. Cut on the dotted lines and file the pages
in alphabetical order.
Letter, word, and three facts
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Illustration:
<56 Private Whys?
Private Whys Journal EntriesAnd/Or Story Starters:
* If I could have whatever I wanted for dinner tonight, my special meal would include…
* If I had to do without one part of my body, what would I choose and why?
* When I went for my yearly check-up, the astonished doctor exclaimed, “Oh my, I’ve
never seen this before. You are made up of…”
* Last night while I was playing my new video game, I was suddenly jerked into the
unit. I was told that I had been turned into a robot made of copper and that my spe-
cial mission was to….
* If I were shipwrecked on a tropical island, the five things I would want to have with
me are…
* Of the six known “ages,” which one would I most want to spend a month in and why?
* I am walking in the thick woods behind my house, when a glimmer on the ground
catches my eye. As I bend over, I spy a brilliant crystal hiding in the weeds. I reach
down to pick it up. Tell what happens next.
* It’s the Fourth of July and I am anxiously waiting for the fireworks show to begin. As
the air fills with explosions and giant balls of light, suddenly I realize that something
is strangely wrong. Everything is in black and white. What is happening?
* While exploring an abandoned cave, I lose track of time, and everything suddenly
begins to grow dark. Quickly I look around and find…
* You’ve discovered a new form of transportation. Tell what it is and how it will help
our world.
* The FBI now has a silicon memory chip that can be implanted into an animal to assist
them in their investigations. Which animal would you suggest they use, and how
would it help an investigation?
Private Whys? <57
CCrryyssttaall CClleeaarr
Antacids
Noodles
Milk of magnesia
Zinc lozenges
Eye shadow
Materials obtained from Flinn or other science
supply vendor:
Copper grains
Copper nuggets
Copper powder
Copper sheets
Copper shot
Copper strips
Copper foil
CCoommppoouunndd CCrreeaattiioonnss
Snack bags
Various types of pasta which can be strung
Colored pipe cleaners
Special Instructions:
Students can work in pairs.
1. Assemble each bag with 2 different colored
pipe cleaners and 3 types of pastas (two to
three of each). Each bag should have the same
number of pieces of pasta, although the types
may be different.
2. As a class, come up with shortened names for
the colored pipe cleaners (e.g., blue-Bl, yellow-
Ye, etc.) and for each type of pasta (e.g., wagon
wheel-Wa, macaroni-Ma, shells-Sh). Students
will fill in their own blank chart with only the
names in their own bag.
3. Caution students to handle pasta carefully. It is
very breakable. Have extras handy to replace
broken pieces, keeping their original number
the same.
CCoommppoouunndd CCooddee CCrraacckkeerr
Table sugar (C12H22O11)
Baking soda (NaHCO3)
Sand (SiO2)
Copper sulfate (CuSO4 • 5H20) (copper sulfate
can be obtained at a horticultural or farm
store; used to control algae in ponds and as a
fungicide; common brand is Blue Stone)
TThhee TTooooll MMaann
18 gauge wire:
Copper and Iron – obtained from Flinn
Bronze – obtained from McMaster.com
Rolling pin
Dough
TThhee WWhhoollee WWoorrlldd IInn OOuurr HHaannddss
Dough:
Green
Orange
Blue
Red
Rolling pins
What Is It, Where Can I Find It, and
How Can I Make It Work?All materials, unless otherwise specified, can be obtained from Wal-Mart® or other convenience stores.
<58 Private Whys?
TThhee SSeeaarrcchh FFoorr BBuurriieedd TTrreeaassuurree
Newspaper
Toilet and paper towel rolls
Tape
Scissors
Marbles
MMiinneerraall DDeetteeccttiivveess,, AAlluumm CCrryyssttaallss,, aanndd
CCrryyssttaall SSttaarr
Dark construction paper
Salt
Sugar
Alum
Glass jars (wide-mouthed)
Sewing thread
Kite string
Pencil
Pipe cleaner
Pan
Hot plate
Borax
Something to stir with
Materials obtained from Flinn or other science
supply vendor:
Copper Sulfate (or Blue Stone)
Chalcopyrite
Magnifying lens
CChheemmiiccaallllyy SSppeeaakkiinngg
Kite string
Pennies dated 1981 or earlier
Paper clip
Cotton balls
Clear jars with lids
Graduated cylinder or measuring cup
Vinegar (white)
Water
Cider vinegar
Nail polish remover
Lemon juice
AA SShhoocckkiinngg DDiissccoovveerryy
Paper clips
Aluminum foil
Rubber bands
Plastic bags
Wood pencils
Pennies dated 1981 or earlier
Nails
Erasers
Tap water in cups
Distilled water in cups
Necessary Materials can be found at Radio Shack:
C cell batteries
3 copper wires per group
C battery holders
Two alligator clips per group
Small flashlight bulb and socket
MMee AAnndd MMyy MMiinneerraallss
Materials obtained from Flinn or other science
supply vendor:
Soil sampling tube
Glass jar
Water
Food coloring (red and blue at least)
Celery stalk
White carnations
Soil Testing Service:
A and L Plains Professional Laboratory A
basic micronutrient test (Test – S4) is $7.40.
They can be reached at
www.al-labs-plains.com.
Private Whys? <59
Answers
WWhhaatt’’ss IInn MMee??::((pppp.. 55,,66,, aanndd 77))
1. 365
2. 182.5
3. 38325 mg & 49275 mg
4. 87600 mg
5. 547500 mg
6. 635100 mg
7. 1.4001322 pounds
Minerals in milligrams:
Chromium – 13.08525
Copper – 448.95
Iron – 9721.775
Magnesium – 106762.5
Zinc – 4197.5
Minerals in pounds:
Chromium – .0000288
Copper – .0009897
Iron – .0214324
Magnesium – .235367
Zinc – .0092537
Rounded Numbers:
Copper – 1600
Gold – 1700
Coal – 590700
Phosphate rock – 20500
Bauxite – 5700
Lead – 1000
Iron ore – 42,000
Natural gas – 5.8 million
Cement – 67800
Petroleum – 8200
Other minerals and metals – 61000
Stone/sand/gravel – 1.65 mill.
Zinc – 900
Salt – 32000
Clays – 20800
AAttoommiicc MMaatthh::((pppp.. 2222 aanndd 2233))
First Magic Square
6 7 2
1 5 9
8 3 4
Magic Sum = 15 which is phosphorous (P)
Non-metal; dictionary, encyclopedia, online, etc.
Second Magic Square
1 14 15 4
12 7 6 9
8 11 10 5
13 2 3 16
Atomic number for selenium (Se) is 34.
Hydrogen (H) = 1
Carbon (C) = 6
Aluminum (Al) = 13, metal
Oxygen (O) = 8, non-metal
Beryllium (Be) = 4
Phosphorous (P) = 15
TThhee TTooooll MMaann::((pp.. 2277))
Wire tool that bent the least – iron.
Wire tool that bent the most – copper.
Most difficult – answers may vary.
Do some materials make better tools for
cutting – yes. Were all materials available? Yes,
the materials were there; they just didn’t know
how to collect and use the materials.
Why did humankind change the materials they
used for tools? Humankind learned how to use
new materials that they discovered to improve
their tools.
<60 Private Whys?
TThhee WWhhoollee WWoorrlldd IInn OOuurr
HHaannddss!!::((pp.. 3333))
Green dough – crust
Orange dough – mantle
Blue dough – outer core
Red dough – inner core
MMiinneerraall DDeetteeccttiivveess::((pp.. 3399))
1. Sugar=monoclinic
2. Chalcopyrite=tetragonal
3. Cupric Sulfate=triclinic
4. Salt=isometric (cubic)
MMee AAnndd MMyy MMiinneerraallss::((pppp.. 4477,,4488,,
aanndd 4499))
1. 105 ppm
2. .8 ppm
3. 211 ppm
4. 118 lbs
5. 4.9 ppm
HHooww PPrriivvaattee WWhhyyss ((WWiissee))
AArree YYoouu??((pppp.. 5500 aanndd 5511))
1. Skin, muscles, bones, blood
2. Calcium, chromium, copper, iron,
magnesium, zinc
3. Elements
4. Periodic Table of Elements
5. Answers will vary
6. Chemical Change
7. Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
8. Minerals
9. Minerals
10. Minerals
