Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Rocks and soils
Earth and rocks
CCSS NGSS.4-ESS2-1England: KS2 Y3 Rocks
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Rocks and soils.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Land and water on Earth
Leads to: How fossils form; Weathering and erosion
Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Land and water on Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Where is most of Earth's fresh water? (in rivers / in puddles / frozen in ice caps and glaciers / in the sea) → frozen in ice caps and glaciersPrompt: Think about Antarctica.
- About 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 2.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
- Which landform is described: a very high peak, often with snow on top? (mountain / valley / island / river) → mountainPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?
Hook · 5 min
- Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
- Share the objective: Rocks and soils. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Is this rock permeable or impermeable: marble?
- Step 1: Impermeable rocks have no gaps for water to pass through.
- Step 2: So the answer is: impermeable (does not let water through)
- Answer: impermeable (does not let water through)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is this rock permeable or impermeable: pumice? (permeable (lets water through) / impermeable (does not let water through)) → permeable (lets water through)Prompt: Does water soak in, or run off the surface?
- Why is slate used for roof tiles? (It is soft and crumbly / It is impermeable and splits into thin flat sheets / It floats / It soaks up rain) → It is impermeable and splits into thin flat sheetsPrompt: A roof must keep rain out.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Is this rock permeable or impermeable: sandstone? (permeable (lets water through) / impermeable (does not let water through)) → permeable (lets water through)Prompt: Does water soak in, or run off the surface?
- Which type of soil holds the most water? (clay soil / gravel / sandy soil / dry sand) → clay soilPrompt: Clay particles are very tiny and pack closely.
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Land and water on Earth.
- Use concrete materials: rock samples.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: How fossils form; Weathering and erosion.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder