Year 3 - Science
Introduction to rocks
Rocks and soils
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers comparing and grouping rocks based on appearance and physical properties, understanding fossil formation, and recognising that soils are made from rocks and organic matter. It involves setting up practical enquiries, making observations, and using evidence to answer questions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain that rock occurs naturally and can be used for different purposes.
Key Notes
- A material is a substance from which something is made.
- Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.
- Materials such as concrete, tarmac and brick are made by humans and are not rock.
- We use different rocks for different purposes.
Vocabulary To Learn
- material: A material is what we use to make things from.
- rock: Rock is a naturally occurring material made up of one or more minerals.
- Earth: Earth is the planet we live on.
- natural: A natural object or material has not been made or changed by humans.
- quarry: A quarry is a place where rock is dug out of the ground.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- May have confusion around classification of rock – thinking rocks in the ground and materials such as concrete, tarmac and bricks are a type of rock.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A material is a substance from which something is made. Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'material'
A material is what we use to make things from. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: May have confusion around classification of rock – thinking rocks in the ground and materials such as concrete, tarmac and bricks are a type of rock. Correction: Help children to understand the material 'rock' is a natural material and not an object, and that materials like brick, tarmac and concrete are human-made and therefore not the same as natural rock material.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Different types of soils (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Everyday uses of rocks Study Guide
- Healthy soil (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) Study Guide
- How fossils are formed Study Guide
- How geologists work Study Guide
- Mary Anning (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Mohs' scale of hardness (non-statutory) Study Guide
- More about fossil formation Study Guide
- Physical properties of rocks: hardness Study Guide
- Physical properties of rocks: permeability Study Guide
- Soil permeability: do and review (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Soil permeability: plan (non-statutory) Study Guide
- The appearance of rocks Study Guide
- Weathering and erosion of rocks Study Guide
- What soils are made from Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 3 Science guide library.