Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.

Physical properties are the features which can be observed from the way an object looks or feels or can be measured.

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

To compare is to examine or look for the difference between two or more things.

To group is when a number of people or things are put together.

Physical properties of rocks: hardness

Science

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.

Rocks and soils 

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Activity that requires collection of items from an area (room, building).

The physical properties of rock are features that can be observed or ...

Which of these are physical properties of rocks you might observe or measure? 

 __________ rocks are hard. Fill in the gap.

Which of the rocks named below can be grouped as hard? 

Scratching the rock's surface with a nail. 

Which of these investigations would show if a rock was hard or not? 

Match the object to the most suitable rock. 

Match the objects to the material it is often made from.

Which of these describe a physical property of a material? 

If you wanted to observe a rock more closely which of these pieces of equipment could you use? 

Which of these statements describes a rock?

When we compare rocks, we observe {{}} and differences to be able to group them together.

We can work like a scientist to carry out an {{}} to find answers to questions.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Exploration of objects

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Physical properties of rocks: hardness

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.