3.1.1

Rocks

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Rocks

The Earth is a rocky planet. Rocky planets are made of rock.

Rock

Rock

Rock is mostly a hard, solid, natural substance made of chemicals called minerals.
It is hot enough inside the Earth for rock to be a liquid (magma).

Different types of rock

Different types of rock

Rocks on earth come in different kinds and have different properties.
- The word 'properties' means the things we can see or measure in a material.

Describing Rocks

You need to look at different properties when describing rocks. The word 'properties' means the things we can see or measure in a material.

Texture

Texture

Is the rock smooth, rough, crumbly, knobbly, spiky?

Appearance

Appearance

Is the rock shiny, dull, mottled, striped, coloured, black?

Hardness

Hardness

You can test the hardness of a rock by trying to make a scratch on its surface.
Try to scratch one rock with another to see which is harder.
- The softer rock is easier to scratch.

Permeability

Permeability

Permeable substances let water go into or through them.
- A school sweatshirt is permeable (it lets water through).
- A plastic raincoat is impermeable (it does NOT let water through).
Test the permeability of a rock by pouring water on to it.
- Look to see if the water soaks in or runs off.

Sorting rocks

Sorting rocks

You can sort rocks into different groups using their properties.
A table is a good way to record how you have sorted the rocks.

1

Year 3: Plants

1.1

Types of Plants

1.1.1Flowering & Non-flowering Plants

1.2

Parts of a Plant

1.2.1Roots 1.2.2What do Roots do?1.2.3Stem 1.2.4Leaves 1.2.5How Leaves Make Food 1.2.6Flowers

1.3

Pollination

1.3.1Pollination 1.3.2Pollination by Insects 1.3.3Pollination by the Wind

1.4

Seeds

1.4.1Types of Seeds 1.4.2Dispersing Seeds

2

Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1

Food

2.1.1The Need for Food 2.1.2Food Groups 2.1.3Carbohydrates 2.1.4Proteins 2.1.5Dairy 2.1.6Fruit & Vegetables 2.1.7Fats 2.1.8Junk Food

2.2

Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.1Skeletons & Muscles 2.2.2Healthy Bones

3

Year 3: Rocks

3.1

Rocks on Earth

3.1.1Rocks 3.1.2Fossils

4

Year 3: Light

4.1

What is Light?

4.1.1Light as Energy 4.1.2Reflections 4.1.3Sunlight 4.1.4Shadows

5

Year 3: Forces & Magnets

5.1

Forces

5.1.1What is a Force?5.1.2Contact & Non-Contact Forces 5.1.3Testing Magnetic Materials 5.1.4Attracting & Repelling Magnets 5.1.5Uses of Magnets

6

Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1

Grouping Animals

6.1.1Biodiversity & Classification 6.1.2Grouping Animals

6.2

Vertebrates

6.2.1Vertebrates 6.2.2Mammals 6.2.3Reptiles 6.2.4Fish 6.2.5Amphibians 6.2.6Birds

6.3

Invertebrates

6.3.1Invertebrates 6.3.2Insects 6.3.3Spiders 6.3.4Slugs & Snails 6.3.5Worms

6.4

Grouping Plants

6.4.1Grouping Plants 6.4.2Flowering Plants 6.4.3Non-Flowering Plants

6.5

Classification Keys

6.5.1Classification Keys

6.6

Environmental Change

6.6.1Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment 6.6.2Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation 6.6.3Negative Impact of Humans: Litter 6.6.4Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation

7

Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

7.1

Teeth

7.1.1Why Do We Need Teeth?7.1.2'Baby' Teeth 7.1.3Adult Teeth 7.1.4Incisors 7.1.5Canines 7.1.6Premolars 7.1.7Molars

7.2

Digestion

7.2.1What is Digestion?7.2.2The Digestive System - The Mouth 7.2.3The Digestive System - The Stomach 7.2.4The Digestive System - The Small Intestines 7.2.5The Digestive System - The Large Intestines

7.3

Food Chains

7.3.1What are Food Chains?7.3.2Producers, Predators & Prey 7.3.3Herbivores & Carnivores

8

Year 4: States of Matter

8.1

The 3 States of Matter

8.1.1States of Matter 8.1.2Changes of State

8.2

The Water Cycle

8.2.1The Water Cycle 8.2.2Evaporation at Different Temperatures

9

Year 4: Sound

9.1

How Do I Hear?

9.1.1What is Sound?9.1.2Sound Travels to Your Ear

9.2

Pitch

9.3

Volume

9.3.1Volume 9.3.2How Distance Affect Volume

10

Year 4: Electricity

10.1

Uses of Electricity

10.1.1What Uses Electricity?

10.2

Conductors & Insulators

10.2.1Electrical Conductors 10.2.2Electrical Insulators

10.3

Making Circuits

10.3.1What is a Circuit?10.3.2Complete Circuits 10.3.3Electrical Safety

Jump to other topics

1

Year 3: Plants

1.1

Types of Plants

1.1.1Flowering & Non-flowering Plants

1.2

Parts of a Plant

1.2.1Roots 1.2.2What do Roots do?1.2.3Stem 1.2.4Leaves 1.2.5How Leaves Make Food 1.2.6Flowers

1.3

Pollination

1.3.1Pollination 1.3.2Pollination by Insects 1.3.3Pollination by the Wind

1.4

Seeds

1.4.1Types of Seeds 1.4.2Dispersing Seeds

2

Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1

Food

2.1.1The Need for Food 2.1.2Food Groups 2.1.3Carbohydrates 2.1.4Proteins 2.1.5Dairy 2.1.6Fruit & Vegetables 2.1.7Fats 2.1.8Junk Food

2.2

Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.1Skeletons & Muscles 2.2.2Healthy Bones

3

Year 3: Rocks

3.1

Rocks on Earth

3.1.1Rocks 3.1.2Fossils

4

Year 3: Light

4.1

What is Light?

4.1.1Light as Energy 4.1.2Reflections 4.1.3Sunlight 4.1.4Shadows

5

Year 3: Forces & Magnets

5.1

Forces

5.1.1What is a Force?5.1.2Contact & Non-Contact Forces 5.1.3Testing Magnetic Materials 5.1.4Attracting & Repelling Magnets 5.1.5Uses of Magnets

6

Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1

Grouping Animals

6.1.1Biodiversity & Classification 6.1.2Grouping Animals

6.2

Vertebrates

6.2.1Vertebrates 6.2.2Mammals 6.2.3Reptiles 6.2.4Fish 6.2.5Amphibians 6.2.6Birds

6.3

Invertebrates

6.3.1Invertebrates 6.3.2Insects 6.3.3Spiders 6.3.4Slugs & Snails 6.3.5Worms

6.4

Grouping Plants

6.4.1Grouping Plants 6.4.2Flowering Plants 6.4.3Non-Flowering Plants

6.5

Classification Keys

6.5.1Classification Keys

6.6

Environmental Change

6.6.1Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment 6.6.2Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation 6.6.3Negative Impact of Humans: Litter 6.6.4Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation

7

Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

7.1

Teeth

7.1.1Why Do We Need Teeth?7.1.2'Baby' Teeth 7.1.3Adult Teeth 7.1.4Incisors 7.1.5Canines 7.1.6Premolars 7.1.7Molars

7.2

Digestion

7.2.1What is Digestion?7.2.2The Digestive System - The Mouth 7.2.3The Digestive System - The Stomach 7.2.4The Digestive System - The Small Intestines 7.2.5The Digestive System - The Large Intestines

7.3

Food Chains

7.3.1What are Food Chains?7.3.2Producers, Predators & Prey 7.3.3Herbivores & Carnivores

8

Year 4: States of Matter

8.1

The 3 States of Matter

8.1.1States of Matter 8.1.2Changes of State

8.2

The Water Cycle

8.2.1The Water Cycle 8.2.2Evaporation at Different Temperatures

9

Year 4: Sound

9.1

How Do I Hear?

9.1.1What is Sound?9.1.2Sound Travels to Your Ear

9.2

Pitch

9.3

Volume

9.3.1Volume 9.3.2How Distance Affect Volume

10

Year 4: Electricity

10.1

Uses of Electricity

10.1.1What Uses Electricity?

10.2

Conductors & Insulators

10.2.1Electrical Conductors 10.2.2Electrical Insulators

10.3

Making Circuits

10.3.1What is a Circuit?10.3.2Complete Circuits 10.3.3Electrical Safety

Practice questions on Rocks

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

1
It is very, very hot in the middle of the Earth. <br>Is rock a solid, liquid or gas in the middle of the Earth?Multiple choice
2
What does 'properties of a material' mean? Multiple choice
3
Select the correct sentences:True / false
4
What are the different properties of rocks?Fill in the list
5
What word best describes the appearance of this rock?Multiple choice

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Healthy Bones

Fossils