Year 3 - Science
Weathering and erosion of rocks
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 describe how natural forces can change rocks over time.
Key Notes
- Weathering is the breaking down of rocks on Earth's surface, over time, by natural forces.
- Erosion is when land is worn away by natural forces, such as water or wind, and transported to another location.
- Weathering and erosion of rock can cause habitat loss and natural disasters.
- Different types of scientists, including geologists, work to eliminate the negative effects of weathering and erosion.
Vocabulary To Learn
- weathering: Weathering is a natural process that slowly breaks apart or changes rock. Heat, water, wind, living things, and other natural forces cause weathering.
- natural forces: Wind, rain, heat and cold are natural forces.
- erosion: Erosion is when bits of rock and earth are carried away from their original location, by natural forces like wind and rain.
- transportation: When objects are moved from one place to another, it is called transportation.
- geologist: A geologist is a scientist who studies what Earth is made of.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children use the word weathering and erosion interchangeably to mean the same thing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks on Earth's surface, over time, by natural forces. Erosion is when land is worn away by natural forces, such as water or wind, and transported to another location.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'weathering'
Weathering is a natural process that slowly breaks apart or changes rock. Heat, water, wind, living things, and other natural forces cause weathering. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children use the word weathering and erosion interchangeably to mean the same thing. Correction: Explain the difference between these two processes, that are closely linked, through clear definitions, images and examples of where they are happening.
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
- 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
- What soils are made from Study Guide
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