Y3/4 (A): Materials: Rocks and soil
Exploring the physical properties of rocks and soils and fossil formation.
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Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Define the term rock.
- Describe the appearance of different rocks, identifying both crystals and grains.
- Group rocks by their absorbency, hardness and reaction to acid rain (vinegar).
- List the different factors that break down rocks.
- Describe fossil formation and identify fossils in rocks.
- Describe the work of a palaeontologist.
- Name, describe and compare some different categories of soil.
- List some of the benefits of earthworms to the soil.
- Identify and describe the comparative size and weight of the layers in a sedimentation jar.
When working scientifically, pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Use a magnifying glass correctly to observe the appearance of a rock in detail.
- Use results to choose the appropriate rock type for a specific use, suggest a better choice of rock for a specific use and predict how a rock will be affected by the weather.
- Research and present information on fossil formation using a single source.
- Use a model of the fossil record to determine the relative age of a fossil, to suggest how a living thing has changed over time and to suggest what living things were around in a certain era.
- Draw and label the bars on a bar chart.
- Accurately draw and label the layers of sediment in a sedimentation jar.
Please note that Kapow Primary Science lessons are designed to be 1 hour and 30 minutes long to reflect the requirements of a core subject.
Suggested prior learning
Y1/2 (B): Materials: Uses of everyday materials
Get startedLessons
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 1: Rocks: Appearance
Knowledge
- To group rocks using their appearance.
Working scientifically
- To observe the appearance of rocks closely, using a magnifying glass.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 2: Rocks: Physical properties
Knowledge
- To group rocks using their physical properties.
Working scientifically
- To make predictions, suggest improvements and explain observations over time.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 3: Fossil formation
Knowledge
- To describe the process of fossil formation.
Working scientifically
- To present research on fossil formation.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 4: Fossils and palaeontology
Knowledge
- To identify fossils and group rocks accordingly.
Working scientifically
- To use the fossil record to answer questions about the past.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 5: Soil formation
Knowledge
- To compare soils and how they were formed.
Working scientifically
- To record the drainage rate for different soils in a bar chart.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 6: Soil layers and earthworms
Knowledge
- To describe a soil sample using sedimentation.
Working scientifically
- To draw and label a diagram.
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Unit resources

Knowledge organiser – Science Y3/4 (A): Materials: Rocks and soil
Aimed at pupils, three pages providing key facts and definitions from the mixed-age unit ‘Rocks and soil’.

Vocabulary display – Science Y3/4 (A): Materials: Rocks and soil
A display version of the vocabulary from the mixed-age unit 'Rocks and soil'.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Mathematics: Statistics.
British values: Mutual respect; Democracy.