Rock, Minerals and Soil - Science Grade 3

Science about rocks, minerals and soil

1. Rocks, Minerals and Soil
Third Grade
Earth Science

3. What are rocks?
•Rocks are solid
materials that
are made of
one or more
minerals.

4. 3 Types of rocks
1.Sedimentary
2.Igneous
3.Metamorphic

5. Metamorphic Rock
•Metamorphic
rock is rocks
that have been
changed by
heat and
pressure.

6. Metamorphic Rocks

7. Sedimentary Rock
•Sedimentary rocks
form when
materials settle into
layers and harden.
•Any rock can
become
sedimentary if at
the surface.

8. Igneous Rock
•Igneous rock is a
rock that was once
melted but has
cooled and
hardened.
•Hot lava comes out
from within the earth
and is an igneous
rock once cooled.

9. 4 ways to identify rocks
1.Texture
2.Color
3.Size
4.Hardness

10. EXPERIMENT TIME!!!
•You are all now junior
geologist. A geologist
is someone who
studies the Earth. We
will test the hardness
of rocks using Moh’s
scale.

11. Moh’s Hardness Scale
•With your group, test the
hardness of rocks and give
it a score of 1 to 10.
•Soft: scratches with
fingernail 1 or 2
•Medium/Soft: scratches
with a penny 3 or 4
•Medium/Hard: scratches
with a nail 5 or 6
•Hard: will not scratch 7 or 8

12. Moh’s Scale
•Working as a group, make a bar
graph with your group rating your
rocks from softest to hardest. Be
sure your graph is labeled and
colorful.

13. Classify rocks
•As a group, discuss classifications of
your rocks. Remember the 4 ways to
classify rocks.
1.Color
2.Size
3.Texture
4.Hardness

15. What are minerals?
•Minerals are
solid natural
made objects
that have never
been alive.
Minerals can
be rock-like or
metals.

16. How are rocks and minerals
different?
•Rocks are made up of
minerals. Minerals
are within all rocks.
The minerals in rocks
are what makes rocks
look different from
other rocks.

17. Rocks and Mineral
Minerals Rocks
Usually very pretty Not pretty
Has a shape No shape
May contain crystalsNo crystals
Will not contain fossilsMay contain fossils
Color is mostly the sameMay have many colors

18. Identify the Minerals
Time to Play a Game…. How many minerals
can you find in the kitchen? (click on refrigerator)

20. What are fossils?
•A fossil is a
mark or the
remains of
something that
was once
living.

21. 4 Types of Fossils
1.Mold
2.Cast
3.Trace
4.True-form

22. Mold Fossil
•A mold fossil is a
impression made in
a substance. It is
not the actual living
organism but a
impression.
•The picture is a
mold fossil of a leaf.

23. Trace Fossil
•Trace fossils are
impressions like mold
fossils but are not the
actual living
organism- just
evidence of them.
•Examples: nests,
burrows, and
footprints.

24. True-Form Fossils
•True form fossils
are the actual once
living animal or
organism.
•Example: Animal
bones

25. Cast Fossil
•A cast fossil is
formed when a
mold fossil is filled
in. The fossil can
be of anything
that once lived
(plants, animals,
insects).

27. Types of Soil
1.Clay
2.Sandy soil
3.Potting soil
4.Loam

28. Clay
•Clay is smooth when
dry and sticky when
wet. Soils high in clay
content are called
heavy soils. Clay also
can hold a lot of
nutrients, but doesn't
let air and water
through it well.

29. Sandy Soil
•When you rub
sand, it feels
rough. This is
because it has
sharp edges.
Sand doesn't
hold many
nutrients.

30. Loam
•Loam is a mixture
of different types
of soils. Loam
soils feel smooth
and spongy when
rolled into a ball.

31. Potting Soil
•Potting soil is
soil mixture made
for use in
gardens and
potted plants.
Potting soil
should be loose
and light.