What Are Rocks? - KS2 Science Lesson - Outstanding Lesson Plan & PowerPoint

This KS2 science lesson introduces pupils to what rocks are and how to distinguish natural rocks from man-made materials. Designed for ages 7–11, the lesson supports National Curriculum objectives by developing observation skills and scientific vocabulary. Pupils learn to describe rocks using properties such as texture, appearance, hardness, and weight.

Included:
✔ Lesson plan
✔ PowerPoint presentation
✔ Worksheets and sorting tables (differentiated 3 ways)
✔ Word bank for support

Lesson Overview:
★ Starter: Pupils explore a tray of mixed items (brick, concrete block, pebble, granite, plastic toy) and sort them into ‘rock’ or ‘not rock’, addressing misconceptions.
★ Main: Teacher input explains what rocks are, introduces key vocabulary (natural, man-made, mineral, property), and models how to describe samples such as pumice, granite, and slate. Pupils examine real rock samples in groups, recording adjectives and observations.
★ Plenary: A “Rock or Not?” quiz consolidates learning, with pupils identifying materials from images and explaining their reasoning.

What makes this great?
✔ Differentiated for support, core, and challenge tasks
✔ Fully resourced for a 30–60 minute lesson
✔ Printable materials for classroom use
✔ Clear success criteria to support assessment

Suggested use cases: KS2 science topic on rocks and soils, practical investigation lessons, or cross-curricular links with geography and history. Ideal for whole-class teaching, small group work, or homework tasks.

Tags:
KS2 science | rocks lesson plan | Year 3 science | natural and man-made materials | outstanding science lesson | rocks and soils KS2 | geology lesson KS2