Year 3 - Science
Mohs' scale of hardness (non-statutory)
Rocks and soils
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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 learn more about the hardness of rocks from the work of important scientists.
Key Notes
- A geologist is a type of scientist that studies what the Earth is made of. They help us to understand more about rocks.
- Scientists from the past, today and in the future help us to learn more about the properties and uses of rocks.
- The results from a scientific investigation can be compared to other investigations that have already been carried out.
Vocabulary To Learn
- rock: Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.
- geologist: A geologist is someone who studies what the Earth is made of.
- hardness: Hardness is the quality of being difficult to bend, cut or break.
- mineral: A mineral occurs naturally and can be dug out of the ground.
- scale: A scale is a set of numbers or amounts, used to measure or compare the level of something.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may use a range of observational methods to assess hardness, e.g. "heaviness" of the object, and if it breaks on impact (test for brittleness), neither of which are a test for hardness.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A geologist is a type of scientist that studies what the Earth is made of. They help us to understand more about rocks. Scientists from the past, today and in the future help us to learn more about the properties and uses of rocks.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'rock'
Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may use a range of observational methods to assess hardness, e.g. "heaviness" of the object, and if it breaks on impact (test for brittleness), neither of which are a test for hardness. Correction: Be aware of using the correct vocabulary around testing for hardness. Explain that hardness is the ability to withstand pressure.
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
- Introduction to rocks Study Guide
- Mary Anning (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
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