Rocks
Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 3.1.1
Rocks
The Earth is a rocky planet. Rocky planets are made of 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
- 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
- Is the rock smooth, rough, crumbly, knobbly, spiky?
Appearance
- Is the rock shiny, dull, mottled, striped, coloured, black?
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
- 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
- You can sort rocks into different groups using their properties.
- A table is a good way to record how you have sorted the rocks.
Test yourself on Rocks
It is very, very hot in the middle of the Earth.
Is rock a solid, liquid or gas in the middle of the Earth?What does 'properties of a material' mean?
What are the different properties of rocks?
What word best describes the appearance of this rock?
What does 'impermeable' mean?