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Year 3 - Science

Soil permeability: do and review (non-statutory)

Rocks and soils

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 carry out and review an investigation to compare how water moves through different soils.

Key Notes

  • Scientists investigate how water moves easily through permeable soils and slowly through soils with low permeability.
  • Scientists often evaluate a completed investigation and suggest improvements.
  • The size of particles in a soil affects its permeability.
  • Soils with high permeability, such as sandy soil, allow water through easily, so decrease the risk of flooding.
  • Soils with low permeability, such as clay soil, don't allow water through easily, so may be prone to flooding.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • permeability: Permeability is the ability of a substance to allow gases or liquids to go through it.
  • measure: To measure is to use equipment to find numbers to describe a feature of something such as its length, weight, size or time.
  • data: Data is information collected during an investigation. It may be numbers, symbols, pictures or text.
  • evaluate: To evaluate an investigation is to include an explanation of, and degree of trust in, the results.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children may believe all soils are the same, therefore water flows through them all at the same rate.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Scientists investigate how water moves easily through permeable soils and slowly through soils with low permeability. Scientists often evaluate a completed investigation and suggest improvements.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'permeability'

Permeability is the ability of a substance to allow gases or liquids to go through it. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children may believe all soils are the same, therefore water flows through them all at the same rate. Correction: As the children carry out the practical investigation with different soil types, they will see how water flows through them at different speeds.

More Lessons In This Unit

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