Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to Lesson 3.5 on Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks, tailored for Year 3 pupils as part of their Rocks unit. This lesson aims to fulfill the national curriculum's requirement for students to categorise different types of rocks based on their visual characteristics and simple physical properties. A cautionary note for teachers is to be mindful of health and safety; some rock samples may have sharp edges, so pupils should handle them with care. Additionally, pupils must wash their hands after touching the rocks, and teachers should be aware of any potential food allergies, as there is a cross-curricular link with art and maths that involves activities with edible materials.

The lesson delves into the formation of sedimentary rocks, exploring stages such as weathering, transport, deposition, sedimentation, compaction, and cementation. Pupils will conduct research and then create a visual cartoon strip to depict these stages. An experiment is also included to investigate the porosity of sedimentary rocks by measuring the change in mass when submerged in water. The lesson then transitions to metamorphic rocks, examining their characteristics and origins, with pupils using hand lenses and rock samples to identify common and distinct features. Finally, a hands-on activity models metamorphic rock formation using chocolate to represent the process of heat and pressure altering the structure of rocks. This engaging lesson encourages pupils to enjoy the learning process and apply critical thinking to evaluate the effectiveness of their models.