Information for teachers and adults

These pages are intended to support the QCA Science Unit 3D Rocks and Soils

and are concerned with the part of the unit dealing with rocks.

It may be difficult to provide children with the relevant pictures and samples

of rocks, so it is hoped that the photographs included on these pages will go

some way to alleviating the problem.

Objectives covered

1. That rocks are used for a variety of purposes.

2. That beneath all surfaces there is rock.

3. That rocks are chosen for particular purposes because of their characteristics.

4. To observe and compare rocks.

Hints on use

The yellow arrow at the bottom of each page takes you back to the home page.

The uses of rocks page is linked to a worksheet that can be printed out for use

or there is a link to a Word page that can be used while online.

The where are the rocks page has no worksheet link. The children should do

their own writing either by hand or by using a word processor.

The what type of rock page has links from each picture to text stating what

type of rock the picture is of, then, from that text, there is a link to more

information about the type e.g. uses.

The activities link takes you to a page with a list of activities and questions for

the children to do and answer.

A further activity could test for the permeability of different rocks by dropping a small amount of water on each one and observing whether the water sinks in or not.