New
New
Year 8
Rocks and minerals
I can describe differences between rocks and minerals.
New
New
Year 8
Rocks and minerals
I can describe differences between rocks and minerals.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Rocks consist of minerals, rock fragments, or organic matter.
- A mineral is a naturally occurring pure substance (an element or a compound) that has a crystal structure.
- Minerals are identified by their crystal structure, composition, and physical properties.
Keywords
Mineral - A mineral is an element or compound with a crystal–like structure. They are the 'building blocks' of rocks.
Crystalline - Crystalline describes a rock composed of interlocking crystals. It is ‘crystal–like’.
Rock - A rock is a solid substance, which is a mixture of minerals or organic matter. It composes any solid portion of Earth.
Common misconception
Pupils generally confuse the distinctions between a rock and a mineral.
Stress and reinforce the definitions of each. Use examples of each and practice classifying them as a mineral or rock.
Provide samples of minerals / rocks for pupils to examine with a hand lens, to stress that minerals are pure substances while rocks are mixtures. Challenge pupils to identify the number of minerals in rocks found at school or at home.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Mineral and rock samples, hand lenses.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which of the following are states of matter?
air
water
Q2.
Which of the following is an element?
water
carbon dioxide
table salt
Q3.
What is the difference between an element and a compound?
Compounds are made of one type of atom, elements are made of two or more types.
Elements are always gases, compounds are always solids.
Q4.
Which of the following materials are suitable for building a house?
paper
Q5.
What are soils made from?
metals
plastic
Q6.
Examples of properties include hardness, colour, density, and melting point. Flammability is a chemical property.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What is a mineral?
A rock composed of organic matter.
A mixture of minerals.
An element or compound found only in rocks.
A substance formed from fossilised plants.
Q2.
What are rocks made of?
gases
water
Q3.
Which of the following statements about rocks are correct?
Rocks can only be composed of a single mineral.
Rocks are always made from organic matter.
Q4.
Which of the following characteristics are used to identify different minerals?
colour
smell
Q5.
What is the primary difference between a mineral and a rock?
Minerals are synthetic, rocks are natural.
Minerals have a crystal structure, rocks do not.
Minerals are larger than rocks.
Rocks contain no minerals.
Q6.
Crystalline describes a substance composed of interlocking .