Students classify specimens as living or non-living, mineral or rock. Introduction to the concept of diversity in non-living materials and what makes a gem different from an ordinary stone.

Students observe real gem specimens under gemological microscopes. They compare transparency and crystal structure across specimens and record observations on a structured worksheet. Transparent, translucent, and opaque classifications are introduced here through direct observation.

Students observe how different gems respond to ultraviolet light — some glow, some do not. They explore how light interacts differently with various gem materials and discuss why fluorescence occurs in some specimens and not others.

Hands-on identification activity. Students apply what they have learnt — colour, transparency, and crystal form — to identify their own specimen. Hardness as a property is introduced and explained here, along with an important gemological note: hardness testing is a destructive method and should never be used on precious stones. Each student keeps what they find.

Facilitated debrief connecting each station back to syllabus concepts. Students share findings and ask questions. Teachers receive a post-visit activity sheet to continue learning in class.

Introduction to gemology as a discipline that applies physics, chemistry, and geology to the study of minerals. Students learn how professional gemologists approach identification and valuation.

Students observe professional gemological instruments — refractometers, hydrostatic balances — set up and demonstrated live. They see how density, specific gravity, and refractive index are measured in practice, connecting classroom concepts to real-world identification work.

Gem specimens are set up under gemological microscopes for students to observe in turn. A guided walkthrough highlights crystal structure, inclusions, and growth patterns, connecting what is visible to the particulate nature of matter and how atoms arrange in solids.

Students observe fluorescence in gem specimens under UV light and explore the physics behind it — energy absorption and emission. They compare natural and lab-grown specimens and discuss why some gems fluoresce while others do not.

A facilitated discussion on the real-world implications of gem mining — environmental impact, labour conditions, and the rise of lab-grown alternatives. Students connect science to society and sustainability, and debate the trade-offs involved.