Rocks and Minerals Facilitated Visit, designed for children in Key Stage 2 groups:

Learning Objectives:

  • Handle and investigate samples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks.

  • Consider what makes a rock a rock by sorting rocks from other materials.

  • Discover how rocks are formed from minerals and identify a group of minerals using a classification key.

  • Compare and group rock samples by appearance and physical properties

  • Find out how local limestone was formed, and how fossils were formed in rocks.  

  • Investigate the different ways that people use rocks and minerals.

Activities during the day:

Morning In the morning 3 groups usually rotate around these activities, each approximately 30 mins long:

Sorting Challenge. Led by a member of museum staff, children will observe, identify and group a group of items/materials based on the question ‘is it a rock or not?’ to define what makes a rock a rock, build vocabulary and the three types of rock.

Classification Challenge. Using a classification key to identify a group of minerals (the building blocks of rocks) based on appearance and physical properties. We’ll provide opportunities for sensory investigation, encourage learning through speaking and listening and encourage children to ask questions.

Fruits of the Earth Discovery Trail. An opportunity for children to explore the museum galleries. Groups can use a printed trail prepared by the museum to explore the museum to focus on objects in the collection that are made from rocks and minerals.

Afternoon

2 groups usually swap between these activities, each approximately 30 mins long

Join a short themed walk in and near Museum in the Park to identify varied uses of limestone. Children will take part in, observe and record simple experiments to test physical properties of limestone.

Discover the story behind Wiliam Smith’s geological map, the first geological map of Britain. Use a large copy of to ask and answer questions about how the map was created and what it can help us learn.

At the end of the day, the whole group gathers, spending about 20 mins in total reviewing the day, what we have seen, done, talked about.

 

Curriculum Links: Science, History

Find out more about our Exploring Rocks and Fossils Remote Learning Package.