Characteristics and distribution of UK rock types
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the characteristics and distribution of rock types in the UK.
Key learning points
- Rock types have distinctive physical and chemical characteristics.
- Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks are found in the UK.
- Igneous rocks form from cooling molten magma.
- Sedimentary rocks form from accumulated sediments.
- Metamorphic rocks change due to heat and/or pressure.
Keywords
Igneous rocks - rocks formed from the cooling of molten magma
Sedimentary rocks - rocks formed from accumulated sediments
Metamorphic rocks - rocks changed by heat and/or pressure
Chalk - a soft white sedimentary rock found in southern England
Granite - a hard igneous rock found in upland UK areas
Common misconception
Rocks do not change once they are formed.
Metamorphic rocks are created by heat and pressure acting on sedimentary and igneous rocks.
Teacher tip
It would be useful to have samples of different rock types in the classroom for students to look at.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
High land, often made of hard rock
Flat or gently sloping land, often fertile
Where land meets the sea
Flowing water moving downhill across land
Q2.Lowland areas in the UK are mostly found in the ...
Q3.What physical process helps shape coastlines?
Q4.The River Severn is the UK's river.
Q5.Which type of rock is likely found in upland areas?
Q6.What often makes lowland areas more suitable for farming?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
Rocks changed by heat or pressure
Rocks formed from molten magma cooling
Hard igneous rock found in uplands
Rocks formed from layers of sediment
Soft white sedimentary rock in southern England
Q2.Granite is a hard rock found in upland areas of the UK.
Q3.Which rock is less resistant to erosion, white, and found in southern England?
Q4.Which of these is true about rocks?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Characteristics and distribution of UK rock types, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Characteristics and distribution of UK rock types, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the The UK's physical landscape unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.