Science
Unit 3d:
Rocks and Soils
Name and give characteristics of several rocks; explain that rocks are used for different purposes; recognise that there is rock under all surfaces and that soils come from rocks.
Direct2U Lesson Plan
Children take a walk around the environment to look at a variety of hard materials. They learn that rocks are naturally occurring while other building materials such as bricks are man-made. They examine a selection of different rocks and compare their properties. They then use a website activity to perform a range of virtual experiments on different types of rock. A worksheet is supplied for this activity.
Direct2U l Also download Worksheet
Use the Intel Microscope to observe and investigate rocks and record observations.
Studying rocks with the Intel microscope (contains photographs of rocks magnified)
Look at rocks and soils and compare textures and composition.
Forensics - compare soil samples from the treads of different people's trainers. Have they been playing on the same surface?
Report ICT Link Unit 3A
Children import the photographs of materials under the microscope into a word processing into a word processing package such as Textease. They add a description and information about each rock.
Use a prepared database to investigate characteristics of rocks.
Introduction to databases with a page on rocks (A Kent Teachers Experience)
Online Rock Database (fossweb.com)
Children use a digital camera to take photos of examples of rock.
Children use a Branching database to identify rocks
Search the internet using Webquests
Guess the Rock l Gran's Beautiful Garden l Rocking Around
Photographs of Rocks 
pdf (www.oum.ox.ac.uk)
Photographs of Rocks (www.oum.ox.ac.uk)
Websites
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| The Rock Cycle www.oum.ox.ac.uk | Pebbles, sand and silt www.fossweb.com | |
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| Information on Soil http://www.soil-net.com | Website on rocks by kids | Material World Ch 4 Science Essentials |
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| IWB Activity - Soil www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk | IWB Activity - Rocks http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk |
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| Geology http://www.windows.ucar.edul | Virtual Quarry Interactive www.virtualquarry.co.uk | Easy Information on Rocks www.alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au |