'Science Rocks!' in Year 3

Date: 21st Sep 2022 @ 3:29pm

As scientists, we are studying rocks. 

The study of rocks is called Geology or Petrology. 

We are Geologists or Petrologists. 

This ties in very nicely with our History topic about The Stone Age.  We have compared different rock samples as well as learning some of their names and properties.

Here are some observations and knowledge that the class have shared with their friends during the first investigation.

We concluded the rocks are different in many ways.

• The texture of some rocks are rough while others are smooth.
• Colours of rocks were brown, red, white, grey and even yellow.
• The weight of rocks were different too; both heavy and light.
• Their appearance differed in pattern, plain and crystals.
• The size and shape of the rocks were observed too.

As scientists, we noticed other things too.

 ‘The yellow rock was called sulphur.’

 ‘Some rocks contained fossils and shiny crystals.’

 ‘One of the rocks was semi-transparent.’

 ‘I know rocks called gypsum, slate, chalk, graphite and sandstone.’

 ‘We were able to write with two of the rocks.  One was called graphite and is used to make pencils and the other was a soft rock called chalk.’

 ‘Slate is flat and waterproof so you can use it for the roof on the top of your house.’

Next, we will investigate rocks to test for hardness.  We will use a scratch test to do this. 

Year 3 will also create a fantastic investigation to test the permeability of rocks as well as learning about the fossils and the terms ‘metamorphic’, ‘sedimentary’ and ‘igneous’.

I have included photographs and our Science Knowledge Organiser to help you learn about our topic.

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