Year 3 - Science
Physical properties of rocks: permeability
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 compare and group different rocks by testing their permeability.
Key Notes
- Geologists test different rocks for permeability. This tells them which rocks allow liquid, e.g. water, to pass through.
- Permeable rocks, such as sandstone, let water pass through them.
- Impermeable rocks, such as marble, do not let water pass through them.
- Rocks can be compared and grouped by their permeability.
Vocabulary To Learn
- permeability: Permeability is the ability of a substance to allow liquids like water to pass through it.
- rock: Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.
- permeable: If a material is permeable it will allow liquids and gases to go through it.
- impermeable: If a substance is impermeable, it will not allow water to pass through it.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children can become confused with the word permanent and permeable.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Geologists test different rocks for permeability. This tells them which rocks allow liquid, e.g. water, to pass through. Permeable rocks, such as sandstone, let water pass through them.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'permeability'
Permeability is the ability of a substance to allow liquids like water to pass through it. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children can become confused with the word permanent and permeable. Correction: Be clear on your definition of permeable, perhaps use some actions to help them remember. Clear up at the start that although permeable sounds rather like permanent it is completely different and explain the difference using examples.
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
- Mohs' scale of hardness (non-statutory) Study Guide
- More about fossil formation Study Guide
- Physical properties of rocks: hardness 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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