Inclusions – Optional Activity

Experiment 6A: Make Your Own Inclusion Museum

What You'll Do:

1. Create Ice Inclusions:
   • Fill ice cube trays with water
   • Add different "inclusions" to each section:
     • Glitter (pretends to be mineral inclusions)
     • Small toy insects (like real amber inclusions)
     • Colored beads (like crystal inclusions)
     • Threads or hair (like needle inclusions)
   • Freeze overnight and see your creations
2. Make Gelatin Inclusion Lab:
   • Make clear gelatin following the package directions
   • While it's still liquid but cooling, add different inclusions
   • Create layers by letting the first layer partially set, adding inclusions, then more gelatin
   • Put in refrigerator until completely solid
3. Become an Inclusion Scientist:
   • Take your ice cubes and gelatin out of their containers
   • Examine them with your magnifying glass
   • Compare to pictures of real gemstone inclusions
   • Notice how inclusions are trapped in different directions and positions
4. Tell Inclusion Stories:
   • For each inclusion type, make up a story about how it might form in nature
   • Think about what inclusions tell us about how hot, cold, or watery it was when the gem formed
   • Compare your artificial inclusions to real specimens if you have any

International Gem Society

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