This short unit is based on the Year 3 Australian national science curriculum. During this unit, students will learn some of the fundamentals of geology, as they observe the properties of soil, rocks and minerals and learn why they are important. This unit relies on a number of hands on activities, which can be contracted or extended depending on the amount of time you have available in your classroom.
Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations
Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns
Compare the observable properties of soils, rocks and minerals and investigate why they are important Earth resources
Compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions
Write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate
Follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate
Use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment
The key concepts in this unit include:
Lesson 1
Studying the Earth
Understand what our earth is made of.
Lesson 2
Rocks
Understand the three types of rocks and how they are formed.
Lesson 3
Sorting Rocks
Classify different rocks by their type.
Lesson 4
Soil
Understand the difference between soil types.
Lesson 5
Examining Soil
Examine soil samples scientifically.
Lesson 6
Assessment
Students complete a mixed mode quiz to assess what they have learned over the course of the unit.
This visual cross section of Earth provides approximate distances from the Earth's crust to the centre of the planet. Approximate sizes of e...
This poster outlines each of the the 'Tectonic Plates', locating them on a map and linking the borders to movements in the earth's crust.
This Earth and Space Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 1 of the Soil, Rocks and Minerals unit. It allows the teacher...
This Earth and Space Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 2 of the Soil, Rocks and Minerals unit. It allows the teacher...
This poster defines igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks as well as looking at minerals. It aims to provide a simple definition for ea...
This Earth and Space Sciences presentation has been created to support Lesson 3 of the Soil, Rocks and Minerals unit. It allows the teacher...
This PowerPoint presentation explains the different types of soil and how scientists classify soil types. This presentation can be used t...
This presentation was created to be used as part of an assessment tool. Students use a quiz answer sheet provided in the activity pack, and...
Students learn about continental drift and plate tectonics by moving backwards in time taking our current continents and creating Pangea....
Engage students in a hands-on science experiment with this resource that guides them in making Oobleck, a fascinating non-Newtonian fluid. T...
This worksheet is designed to be a letter sent home to parents to explain the coming unit and enlist their help in the collection of rock an...
Students cut, rearrange and paste a series of rock facts into their science books that will help them understand the differences between the...
This word search helps consolidate some of the geology terms your students will use throughout the unit, it also makes a great fast finisher...
Students examine rock samples and try to sort and classify them. Increasing students’ understanding of the differences between the 3 dif...
This worksheet encourages students to get out in the natural world to look for and identify the three different types of rocks. This activit...
Students do an analysis of dry soil samples, and prepare their samples for a future investigation. Through investigation, students learn...
This is a continuation to the previous soil investigation, that now let’s students look at the soil samples after sitting in solution over a...
This worksheet is part of an assessment for the Year 3 ACARA earth and space science curriculum unit called Soil, Rocks and Minerals. You wi...
