New
New
Limestone landscapes
I can identify the key features of limestone, and describe different limestone landscapes.
Lesson 6 of 13
New
New
- Year 8
Limestone landscapes
I can identify the key features of limestone, and describe different limestone landscapes.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Limestone is a sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate.
- Grykes are deep cracks on the surface on limestone formed by chemical weathering.
- Clints are exposed blocks of limestone separated by grykes.
- Limestone landscapes include limestone pavements, such as Malham Cove, and limestone caves, such as Gough's Cave.
Keywords
Limestone - a hard sedimentary rock
Grykes - deep cracks on the surface of limestone pavements
Clints - exposed blocks of limestone
Solution - a form of chemical weathering where rock is slowly dissolved by acidic water
Limestone pavement - flat, exposed area of limestone
Common misconception
Some students may think that grykes and clints are type of rock, rather than being a feature of limestone landscapes.
Students will be taught what clints and grykes are in relation to limestone.
A helpful way to remember what clints and grykes are, is: clints are clumps, and grykes are gaps.
Teacher tip
Equipment
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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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which type of rock can contain fossils?
Which type of rock can contain fossils?
Igneous
Metamorphic
Q2.Which type of rock is formed from cooled lava or magma?
Which type of rock is formed from cooled lava or magma?
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Fossil
Q3.What are rocks made of?
What are rocks made of?
Metal
Plastic
Water
Q4.What is weathering?
What is weathering?
The formation of new rocks
The heating of rocks by the sun
The movement of rocks by water and wind
Q5.How do weathering and erosion differ?
How do weathering and erosion differ?
Weathering and erosion both break down rocks in the same way
Erosion happens first, then weathering
Only erosion affects landscapes over time
Q6.Which process helps recycle rocks over millions of years?
Which process helps recycle rocks over millions of years?
Erosion
Fossilisation
The water cycle
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is limestone primarily made of?
What is limestone primarily made of?
Sand
Clay
Granite
Q2.What are grykes and clints in a limestone landscape?
What are grykes and clints in a limestone landscape?
Types of rock
Forms of volcanic rock
Layers of metamorphic rock
Q3.What type of erosion commonly affects limestone?
What type of erosion commonly affects limestone?
Wind erosion
Glacial erosion
Thermal erosion
Q4.Where are famous limestone landscapes found in the UK?
Where are famous limestone landscapes found in the UK?
The Lake District
Snowdonia
The Scottish Highlands
