You will learn
- Test hardness by scratching.
- Test permeability with water.
- Compare rocks.
- Record results.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Rocks differ in hardness.
- Some are permeable.
- We test with scratch and water tests.
- We compare using tables.
Words to know
how hard a material is
letting water soak in
not letting water in
how something feels
1. Discover: The wet stones
Esi drops water on two stones. One soaks it up and turns dark. On the other the water stays in a bead. “The first is permeable,” says her teacher. “The second is impermeable.”
Think: Where would we use each kind?
2. Understand: Rock properties
Idea 1: Hardness
Hardness tells how easily a rock scratches. Try scratching one rock with another, or with a coin or nail. Softer rocks scratch first.
Idea 2: Permeability
A permeable rock lets water soak in. An impermeable rock does not. Weigh a dry rock, soak it, and weigh again.
Idea 3: Texture
Texture can be smooth, rough, grainy or crystalline. Describe it and record it in a table.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Test
Scratch.
- Coin scratches.
- Soft rock.
- Hardness.
Answer: A rock that scratches easily is soft.
Example 2 (We do it together): Test
Water drop.
- Soaks in.
- Permeable.
- Dark patch.
Answer: Soaking shows permeability.
Example 3 (You try): Compare
Two rocks.
Show the steps and answer
- Table.
- Record.
- Compare.
Answer: Tables help us compare.
Did you know?
Diamond is the hardest natural material and can scratch almost anything.
Why this matters
Knowing rock properties helps builders and farmers choose the right stones.
4. Explore: Rock tests
Test hardness and permeability.
- Choose four rocks.
- Scratch each with a nail.
- Drop water on each.
- Record in a table.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Soft rocks scratched easily and some soaked up water.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- ___ tells how easily a rock scratches.
- ___ rocks let water soak in.
- ___ is how a rock feels.
- We ___ results.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is hardness?
How hard.
Question 2. What is permeable?
Lets water in.
Question 3. What is texture?
How it feels.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is hardness?
- What is permeable?
- What is texture?
- How to test hardness?
- How to test permeability?
Level 2: Grow
- Why scratch away?
- Why weigh rocks?
- Why record?
Level 3: Stretch
- Run the tests.
- Rank by hardness.
- Explain results.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Which rock is soft?
Show a sample answer
Chalk.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Some are soft.
Fix: Some do.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can test hardness by scratching.
- I can test permeability with water.
- I can compare rocks.
- I can record results.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Rocks differ in hardness.
- Some are permeable.
- We test with scratch and water tests.
- We compare using tables.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Uses of rocks. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Define hardness and permeable. [2 marks]
- Describe a permeability test. [3 marks]
- Describe a hardness test. [3 marks]
- Why record? [1 mark]
- Safety rule? [1 mark]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Hardness [1]; permeable [1]
- Dry weigh [1]; soak [1]; weigh again [1]
- Scratch [1]; compare [1]; record [1]
- Compare [1]
- Any [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is hardness?
- What is permeable?
- What is texture?
- How to test hardness?
- How to test permeability?
- Why scratch away?
- Why weigh rocks?
- Why record?
- Run the tests.
- Rank by hardness.
Homework
Test two rocks at home with water drops and note which absorbs more.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is hardness? | How hard. | 1 |
| 2. What is permeable? | Lets water in. | 1 |
| 3. What is texture? | How it feels. | 1 |
| 4. How to test hardness? | Scratch. | 1 |
| 5. How to test permeability? | Water drops. | 1 |
| 6. Why scratch away? | Safety. | 1 |
| 7. Why weigh rocks? | See water taken. | 1 |
| 8. Why record? | Compare. | 1 |
| 9. Run the tests. | Table. | 1 |
| 10. Rank by hardness. | List. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 How hard.; 2 Lets water in.; 3 How it feels.; 4 Scratch.; 5 Water drops.. Level 2: 1 Safety.; 2 See water taken.; 3 Compare.. Level 3: 1 Table.; 2 List.; 3 Paragraph..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Test hardness by scratching | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Test permeability with water | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Compare rocks | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Record results | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “All rocks are hard.” Some are soft.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Test and describe rock properties.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child tests rock properties. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Drop water on rocks together.
- Ask, “Which soaks?”
- Wear goggles.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: test hardness by scratching; test permeability with water; compare rocks; record results.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 2 Earth ideas: weather, seasons, and the materials found on Earth such as water, air and soil.
Materials. Rocks, nails, droppers, water, balances. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather rocks.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Drop water on a rock and ask, “What happened?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach properties.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners test.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners compare.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Is it hard? Does it soak up water?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “All rocks are hard.” Some are soft.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Test and describe rock properties. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 3 Unit 7, topic 2; Next Generation Science Standards, Earth materials and processes; Cambridge Primary Science Stage 3, rocks and soils; IB Primary Years Programme, sharing the planet. These sources informed the lesson.