Y4 Materials

Starter, Plenary or Revision Resource

November 2005

How can you find out how hard a rock is? Anyway, why is this important?

Sc1 Rock HardnessSc1 Rock Hardness

1. IDEAS and EVIDENCE

Question / idea / claim or hypothesis

Is there sufficient scientific evidence to suggest which rock is harder than another?

YES

NO

2. PLANNING

Scientifically

evidence is not sufficient.

Using a ‘scratchometer’ children put the rocks into order of hardness.

3. OBTAINING and PRESENTING

EVIDENCE

Design/plan an investigation to find an answer.

Children do scratch tests on a variety of rocks.

4. CONSIDERING EVIDENCE

and EVALUATING

How do we know if a rock has been scratched or just marked?Two children are still not convinced that the order is correct ..they suggest checking scratch depth with a microscope…

Which is the best rock to use for plaques?

Sc1 Carving RockSc1 Carving Rock

1. IDEAS and EVIDENCE

Question / idea / claim or hypothesis

Is there sufficient scientific evidence to justify that one rock carves better than another?

YES

NO

2. PLANNING

Scientifically

evidence is not sufficient.

Children compare the presentation of the lettering.

3. OBTAINING and PRESENTING

EVIDENCE

Design/plan an investigation to find an answer.

Children carve small letters into sandstone and slate.

4. CONSIDERING EVIDENCE

and EVALUATING

How do we know if slate is the best…could other rocks be tested?