The class is taking turns hosting ‘Aaron’ the class mascot, taking him on adventures. It is Little J’s turn, so Little J, Nanna, Big Cuz, and Old Dog take Aaron on Country to look for mica rock, and along the way they photograph the expedition. Distracted by the events of the day, Little J loses Aaron and the family enrols the help of Uncle Mick, a Search and Rescue officer, to return him.

Explore - Participate in guided investigations to explore and answer questions

Theme - MINERALS

After viewing Little J & Big Cuz, Episode 8 ‘Where’s Aaron?’, engage students with the following activities to support their investigation of mica, and its properties as a mineral. Revisit the definition of mica and compare it to common rocks.

Have students pose and respond to questions about the mineral Little J was referring to and wanting to find in the episode. Write the term ‘mica’ on the board/IWB, and the questions the students are required to find answers to, such as:

• What is the composition of mica?
• Where would you find mica in Australia?
• What is mica used for
• How is mica identifiable in the bush/desert?
• What shape, size and colour is mica?
• How was mica formed in its original state?

Survey the class to see if students have any prior knowledge of mica, and if possible, bring a sample of mica to class for students to examine. Divide the class into smaller groups and each group elects to find information for one or more of the questions, listed above.

Once all groups have located the answer to the question, develop a fact sheet with the combined information, and selected images. Use this as a template for other minerals found in Australia.

Have students suggest and/or find the names of other minerals and an image of a selection of minerals. There are over 4000 minerals found in Australia. Suggest to students the following minerals, such as, iron ore, gold, diamonds, quartz, feldspar, silver, copper, tin, bauxite, calcite, gypsum, pyrite, ruby, sapphire, opal, nickel, hematite, lead, magnesium, malachite, etc.

Direct students to the following websites for information:

• Dynamic Earth 

Invite students to work in pairs, and select one of the minerals to complete an information sheet on, similar to the questions sheet they completed for mica. Once complete, encourage students to share their findings and contribute their information sheet to a class compiled gallery/album of Australian minerals.

As a class, watch these videos:

• Dynamic Earth: Aboriginal use of rocks and minerals 
• Aboriginal use of rock

Have students recall the ways Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples used minerals, and which minerals they used.

Enter the worksheets, information, images, and diagrams about minerals and rocks into the individual student’s science journal. The journal records all the observations, research, evaluations and reflections a student has about the science they discover.

“A science journal is a record of a students’ observations, experiences and reflections. Each entry is dated and annotated by the student. Annotations may include written labels, drawings, diagrams, charts, small specimens, photographs, and graphs. Student engagement and learning is evident in the science journal.”

Sourced from: Primary Connections, Linking science with literacy