New
New
Year 3

How geologists work

I can explain that geologists are scientists who use knowledge of rocks and soils to learn about Earth and other planets.

New
New
Year 3

How geologists work

I can explain that geologists are scientists who use knowledge of rocks and soils to learn about Earth and other planets.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geologists study volcanoes, rivers, glaciers, rocks and mountains.
  2. Geologists can work in places such as space agencies and observe properties of rocks and soils collected from the Moon.
  3. Geologists have to use data collected from a long distance to make their observations of planets including Mars.

Common misconception

Geologists only look at rocks and soils collected on Earth.

Geologists also work with data from space; sometimes this can be physical rock samples from the Moon and other times this is data that has been collected by the Mars Rovers and sent back to Earth for them to analyse from a distance.

Keywords

  • Geologist - A geologist is a scientist who studies what Earth and other planets are made from.

  • Data - Data is information collected during an investigation. It may be numbers, symbols, pictures or text.

  • Observation - We make observations when we look closely at something and use other senses too.

  • Moon rock - Moon rock is rock collected from the surface of the Moon.

  • Space agency - A space agency is an organisation that focuses on space exploration, aeronautics, and space transportation.

Explore other secondary sources, such as library books and the internet, to find out more about the search for life on Mars.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Worksheet

Content guidance

  • Equipment requiring safe usage.
  • Exploration of objects encouraged.

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a scientist?
An image in a quiz
someone who acts in plays in the theatre
someone who teaches children in a classroom
Correct answer: someone who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence
someone who gathers crops from fields and sells the produce
Q2.
A geologist is a scientist who studies ...
An image in a quiz
animals
plants
Correct answer: rocks
human-made materials
Correct answer: soils
Q3.
Which part of an investigation does a scientist use to find out if they have answered the question they are investigating?
An image in a quiz
the plan
the equipment
Correct answer: the data
Q4.
Order the steps a scientist takes when carrying out an investigation.
An image in a quiz
1 - Thinks of a question to investigate.
2 - Makes a plan.
3 - Collects the equipment and materials needed.
4 - Carries out the investigation.
5 - Records the data.
6 - Analyses the data to answer their question.
Q5.
Scientists use data to help them answer questions. Look at the data on this image. Which questions does this data help you to answer?
An image in a quiz
Which is the prettiest rock?
Correct answer: Which is the hardest rock?
Which is the most expensive rock?
Correct answer: Which is the softest rock?
Which is the most permeable rock?
Q6.
Scientists things closely with a hand lens or digital microscope to help them answer questions.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: observe, look at
Q1 EreborMountain/ShutterStock.com

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following do geologists study?
An image in a quiz
rainbows
Correct answer: volcanoes
Correct answer: rivers
Correct answer: glaciers
bones
Q2.
Where might a geologist work?
An image in a quiz
a cafe
a zoo
Correct answer: a space agency
a hairdressers
a police station
Q3.
What do all the things that geologist study have in common?
An image in a quiz
They contain the material metal.
They contain the material plastic.
Correct answer: They contain the material rock.
They contain the material water.
Q4.
A geologist working for a space agency might observe rock that has come from ...
An image in a quiz
my garden.
the ocean.
Correct answer: the Moon.
a cliff by the beach.
Q5.
Geologists have to use data collected from a distance to make their observations of planets, including Mars.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: long, big
Q6.
How do geologists get the data they observe from Mars?
An image in a quiz
They travel to Mars and collect it themselves.
They ask an astronaut to bring some rocks back with them.
They make it up, based on rocks they collect on Earth.
Correct answer: They receive digital data collected by the Mars Rovers.