New
New
Year 3

The appearance of rocks

I can compare, group and identify different rocks by observing their appearance.

New
New
Year 3

The appearance of rocks

I can compare, group and identify different rocks by observing their appearance.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The appearance of rocks can be observed more closely using a hand lens or microscope.
  2. Rocks can be compared and grouped by appearance, by looking for similarities and differences.
  3. Different rocks have different names.
  4. Rocks can be identified and named using simple secondary sources of information.

Common misconception

Children may think that rocks are all just called 'rock' and they don't have different appearances and different names.

Make sure the rock samples you give them are not actual objects, e.g. an ornament, so they are not able to use usage as a way to classify. Use a wide range of rocks that are very different so the children can identify them correctly.

Keywords

  • Rock - Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.

  • Appearance - The appearance of an object is the way something looks.

  • Compare - To compare is to look for similarities and differences.

  • Identify - To identify is to name something correctly.

  • Secondary sources - Information gathered using secondary sources is information that has been collected by someone else.

Make sure you use real rocks and not images of rocks for this unit. It is important for children to handle and observe real specimens to appreciate how different rocks are. Child friendly digital microscopes will help with identifying similarities and differences.
Teacher tip

Equipment

See additional materials for full guidance.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
  • Exploration of objects

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
A is what we use to make things. It is a substance from which something is made.
Correct Answer: material, Material
Q2.
A rock is a type of ...
An image in a quiz
plant.
animal.
Correct answer: material.
fabric.
Q3.
Which of these materials are natural?
Correct answer: wool
Correct answer: wood
plastic
Correct answer: rock
Q4.
Which of these statements explain what a natural material is?
An image in a quiz
A natural material is made in a factory.
Correct answer: A natural material is something we find in nature.
A natural material is made by humans.
Correct answer: A natural material has not been made by humans.
Q5.
Rocks are found in the crust of the .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Earth, earth
Q6.
Which of these objects could be made from rock?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: skate ramp
slippers
football
Correct answer: chopping board

6 Questions

Q1.
Scientists observe the appearance of rocks more closely using a __________ or a microscope.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: hand lens
telescope
binoculars
Q2.
If we want to compare and group things by their appearance, what would we do?
An image in a quiz
decide which ones we like and we don't like
divide them into equal groups
Correct answer: compare their similarities and differences
Q3.
Which property could help you to identify and name this rock just by its appearance?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: the colour of the rock
how many pieces of rock there are
how waterproof the rock is
Q4.
Different rocks have different names. Which of these are types of rock?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: chalk
rubber
Correct answer: granite
sponge
Correct answer: pumice
Q5.
Which of these are secondary sources of information that you could use to help identify a rock you didn't know the name of?
An image in a quiz
a website about animals
Correct answer: a visit to a rock museum
Correct answer: a book about rocks
Correct answer: a geologist
Q6.
How could we compare and group rocks based on their appearance?
An image in a quiz
We could research the price of the rock.
Correct answer: We could observe the amount of grains in the rock.
We could find out where the rock came from.
Correct answer: We could count the number of holes in the rock.

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