Science at key stage 3 (Year 8)

Unit 8H: The rock cycle

Objectives

Section 1: How is sedimentary rock formed?
Children should learn:

that sedimentary rock can be formed by pressure from layers of sediment resulting in the compaction and cementation of grains
about some characteristics of sedimentary rocks

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Section 2: Are all limestones different?
Children should learn:

to use preliminary work to find out whether a possible approach is practicable
to describe and evaluate how the work was undertaken and what led to the conclusions
that rocks are mixtures of varying composition
that the composition of a limestone is related to the process of formation

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Section 3: What is different about metamorphic rocks?
Children should learn:

that increasing temperature and pressure can cause some rocks to change in the solid state
that metamorphic rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks during metamorphism, as a result of high pressure and/or high temperature

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Section 4: a. Where do igneous rocks come from?
Children should learn:

that igneous rocks crystallise from magma
that the rate of cooling and crystallisation determines the grain size in an igneous rock
to explain observations in terms of the particle model
to draw conclusions from observations of rock samples

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Section 5: b. Where do igneous rocks come from?
Children should learn:

to use first-hand and secondary sources of data to investigate differences between igneous rocks

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Section 6: What is the rock cycle?
Children should learn:

that the rock cycle links together the processes of rock formation
how the rock cycle provides a continuous supply and transformation of Earth materials

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Section 7: Reviewing work
Children should learn:

to relate key ideas about geological changes to each other

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Sections in this unit

This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. How is sedimentary rock formed?
	2. Are all limestones different?
	3. What is different about metamorphic rocks?
	4. a. Where do igneous rocks come from?
	5. b. Where do igneous rocks come from?
	6. What is the rock cycle?
	7. Reviewing work