Inside rock
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can make detailed observations of different rocks and use key terms to describe features of them.
Key learning points
- Components of rocks, such as sand, fossils, shells, crystals, help to indicate how those rocks formed and their age.
- Rocks contain grains which can be round or interlocking.
- Some rocks contain crystals that point in many directions while others are aligned.
- Rock types and textures provide insights into geological processes and Earth's history.
Keywords
Grain - Grains are the individual pieces that make up a rock.
Minerals - A mineral is an element or compound with a crystal-like structure. They are the 'building blocks' of rocks.
Textures - The texture of a rock describes the size and shape of its grains. It also describes how the grains are arranged in the rock.
Crystals - A crystal is a solid whose particles have a highly ordered arrangement. They often have a regular shape.
Interlocking - Interlocking describes grains which lock together like a "mosaic". Interlocking grains don't have gaps between them.
Common misconception
Pupils tend to classify rocks by colour, shape or size - not useful for distinguishing rock types.
Encourage pupils to focus on the texture of a rock (the grains and how they are arranged) to classify them and consider uses of those rocks.
Teacher tip
Provide pupils with a large variety of rock samples so they can practice applying their understanding of relevant rock properties.
Equipment
Rock samples, magnifying glasses.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes soil?
Q2.What are the solid parts of planet Earth primarily composed of?
Q3.What indicates a rock might be very hard?
Q4.What is a fossil?
Q5.True or false? All rocks are equally as hard as each other
Q6.Which factor does not directly affect the formation of soil from rocks?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following rock features to their descriptions:
individual pieces that make up a rock
elements or compounds with a crystal-like structure
size, shape, and arrangement of particles in a rock
highly ordered, solid particles with a regular shape
Q2.When examining a rock, which feature is most useful for identifying its type?
Q3.When describing a rock that has grains fitting tightly together with no gaps, use the term...
Q4.Which of the following is NOT a useful characteristic for classifying rock types?
Q5.Order the following steps to describe how to analyse a rock's features starting with the most general observation (colour/shape):
Q6.Analysing minerals gives a more accurate geological time, an epoch. This method is particularly useful for rocks that do not contain fossils or those composed of ...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Inside rock, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Inside rock, 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 3 science lessons from the Earth's resources unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.