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Important update from TheSchoolRun

For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.

What this means for subscribers:

  • Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
  • In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
  • As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.

A few changes to be aware of:

  • The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
  • The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.

*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.

What are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks?

Rock specimens
Do you know the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks? Find out what your child will be taught in KS2 science and how you can support their learning about geology at home.

What are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks?

Rocks are made up of different minerals and form the Earth’s crust (outer layer). Different combinations of minerals form rocks; minerals are made of elements.

There are 3 different types of rocks; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Igneous rock is formed when magma or lava from volcanoes cools. Examples include basalt and granite. Most igneous rock is very hard. Some of the most spectacular rock formations on our planet are made of igneous rock; in Britain we see granite shapes called tors in south-western locations like Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Land's End.

Sedimentary rocks are formed over millions of years when sediments (tiny pieces of rocks and animal skeletons) are pressed together at the bottom of seas and rivers. Examples include sandstone, coal and chalk. Some sedimentary rocks contain fossils (bones or shells of living things that were buried long ago and have turned to stone).

Metamorphic rocks are formed when other rocks are changed due to heat or pressure. Examples include slate and marble. Metamorphic rocks are very hard but can be damaged by acids like acid rain (on buildings) or even lemon juice (on worktops!).

Fossils are the remains of once-living plants or animals, preserved in rocks. 

Soils are made from rocks and organic matter.

How are children taught about rocks and soil in primary school?

Children will be given the opportunity to compare different types of rocks, considering what they look like (their colour, if they have grains or crystals) and physical properties (if they crumble easily and if they are waterproof).

Children might also learn about the rock cycle (as soon as igneous rocks are exposed to air they begin to be eroded and form sediments; the sediments will then be pressed together to form sedimentary rock, which might then become metamorphic rock and finally melt beneath the Earth's crust and erupt as lava, before becoming igneous rock once again). 

When are children taught about rocks and soil?

In science children will learn about rocks in Year 3. Work on rocks and soils will often be combined with / closely linked with work in geography lessons such as describing and understanding volcanoes. 

Here are some of the types of activities children might do at school when learning about rocks and soil:

  • Comparing Children might observe and compare rock or soil samples in the classroom and look at rocks used in local buildings and gravestones. They may use magnifying glasses or a microscope to look closely at rocks to find crystals, grains and fossils. 
  • Classifying Children may be asked to classify rocks (or soils), usually working in a small group. They will be provided with a sample of rocks and a classification key to help them work out which rock is which.
  • Investigations They may investigate (plan and carry out a fair test) what happens to rocks when they are rubbed together or if they absorb water.
  • Purpose and use They will discuss and consider the use of different rocks; for example, slate is useful for roof tiles and chalk for drawing with. Children may be given a matching activity where they are asked to suggest the best rock for a specific purpose.

Books about rocks and geology for children

     

Learn about rocks with activities at home

  • Go on a walk around your local area and look for different types of rocks. Are the buildings made from rocks? What about the roof tiles? 
  • Visit your local graveyard and look at the gravestones; discuss how the weather has affected them.
  • On holiday, you could look at the sand and types of rock at the beach.
  • Create a poster about different types of rocks or make up your own song.
  • Use chalk (a type of rock) to create a picture either on sugar paper or paving stones.
  • Make a list of all the things you can think of that are made from rocks (kitchen work surfaces, slate photo frames, walls, bridges, tunnels, gravestones, plates, pots, sinks, tiles, patios, statues, etc.). Turn it into a competition – who can think of the most?
  • Use catalogues or magazines to find pictures of items made from rocks and create a rock collage.