Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.

A geologist is someone who studies what the Earth is made of.

Hardness is the quality of being difficult to bend, cut or break.

A mineral occurs naturally and can be dug out of the ground.

A scale is a set of numbers or amounts, used to measure or compare the level of something.

Mohs' scale of hardness (non-statutory)

Science

Introduction to rocks

The appearance of rocks

Physical properties of rocks: hardness

Physical properties of rocks: permeability

Everyday uses of rocks

Weathering and erosion of rocks

How fossils are formed

More about fossil formation

Mary Anning (non-statutory)

What soils are made from

Different types of soils (non-statutory)

Healthy soil (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Soil permeability: plan (non-statutory)

Soil permeability: do and review (non-statutory)

How geologists work

In this Rocks and soil unit, pupils learn to describe in simple terms how fossils are formed. In the Evolution and inheritance unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to recognise that things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago.

In the Uses of everyday materials unit, pupils learnt to identify and compare the suitability of materials, including rock. In this Rocks and soils unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare and group different kinds of rocks on the basis of their appearance and simple physical properties.

This unit covers comparing and grouping rocks based on appearance and physical properties, understanding fossil formation, and recognising that soils are made from rocks and organic matter. It involves setting up practical enquiries, making observations, and using evidence to answer questions.

Rocks and soils

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

A geologist is a type of scientist who studies what {{}} is made of.

Geologists from the past, today and in the future help us to learn more about the __________ of rocks.

Which scientist from the past helped us to learn about the physical properties of rocks through their investigations?

Friedrich Mohs created the Mohs' scale to measure and compare the {{}} of types of rock.

It is useful to __________ results of an investigation with one that has already been carried out.

Match the rock types to their potential uses based on their properties using Mohs' scale of hardness.

The physical properties of a material are things we can {{}} or measure.

Which of these are physical properties of materials?

If you scratched a rock with a nail you would be testing for ...

Which of these rocks do you think was used to make this statue?

Which of these physical properties could you use to group types of rock?

Starter Quiz

The physical properties of a material are things we can or measure.