Name:
Form:
Science Teacher:
Year 8 Thinking Tool.
Answer the question at the top of the thinking tool. Use
the different stages to help you write a final paragraph to
answer the question.
There is a levels ladder included to help you understand
how to reach your target level and what you need to do to
progress beyond this.
Use the attached keywords to help you and use the link
below to the BBC Bitesize website to research your answer
if you need more support (you can use other websites if
you want !)
Also don’t forget to ask your class teacher for help if you
feel you are struggling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/
Thinking Tool
Question: What are fossils and how are they formed ?
Key Words: List the key words you think you will need to use to answer the question.
Diagram:
sketch a diagram to show what happens and use your keywords to help answer
the question.
Sequence: Put your ideas into a sequence of sentences that will help answer the question
as a final paragraph.
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Paragraph
Write your answer to the question as fully as you can. (HINT - Use cause & effect connectives e.g.
consequently, because, whenever, depending upon, eventually, since/until etc.)
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(Continue on another sheet of paper if you need more space!)
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Thinking Tools Level Ladder
Level
3
Description (what do you need to do to get this level !)
Recall
You have………..
Written a list of key words.
Drawn and labelled a basic diagram
Identified some basic scientific content.
…to help answer the questions.
4
Recall and Vocabulary.
You have………..
Written a list of key scientific words,
Drawn a basic labelled diagram
Described the scientific content.
Structured some basic sentences.
…..to help answer the question.
5
Recall, Vocabulary and Key Ideas.
You have………..
Written a list of key scientific words,
Drawn and labelled a diagram.
Explained the scientific content.
Structured some sentences using key ideas and scientific words.
Linked the sentences to form a basic paragraph.
…..to help answer the question.
6
Recall, Vocabulary, Key Ideas and Explanation.
You have………..
Written a list of key scientific words,
Drawn and labelled a detailed diagram.
Analysed the scientific content.
Written structured sentences using key ideas and scientific words.
Linked the sentences with connectives to form a paragraph.
…..to help answer the question.
7
Recall, Vocabulary, Key Ideas and Explanation.
You have………..
Written a list of key scientific words,
Drawn and labelled a detailed diagram.
Linked the scientific content.
Written structured sentences using key ideas and scientific words.
Linked the sentences with connectives to form a detailed paragraph referencing your key
words and scientific knowledge.
…..to help answer the question.
KEYWORDS FOR THE TOPIC !
Word
Pronunciation
Meaning
cementation
sem-men-tay-shun
A process in which water is squeezed out of
the spaces between pieces of rock leaving
mineral salts behind which stick (cement) the
rock pieces together.
cemented
sem-men-ted
Something that has been stuck together.
chalk
compaction
Soft white or grey rock formed from the shells
of small sea animals.
com-pack-shun
When layers of sediment or rock are squashed
by the weight of sediment above them.
deposits
When moving water drops rock fragments or
grains.
fossil
The remains of a dead animal or plant that
became trapped in layers of sediment and
turned into rock.
grain
Tiny, rounded piece of rock.
limestone
A sedimentary rock made from the shells of
dead sea creatures consisting mainly of calcium
carbonate.
minerals
The chemicals that rocks are made from.
porous
poor-us
Porous rocks can soak up water.
sandstone
A sedimentary rock made from rounded grains
of sand.
sediment
Rock grains and fragments dropped on the
bottom of a river, lake or sea.
sedimentary rock
Rock formed from layers of sediment.
shale
A sedimentary rock.
transport
The movement of rock grains and fragments by
wind or water.
weathered
Rocks that have been worn away or broken up
by chemical, biological or physical processes.
Word
Pronunciation
Meaning
carbonate-rich
Something which contains a lot of compounds
called carbonates.
chalk
Soft white or grey rock formed from the shells
of small sea animals.
fossil
Any sign of past life that has been preserved in a
rock.
limestone
A sedimentary rock made from the shells of dead
sea creatures.
oolite
oo-lite
A type of limestone formed when water
evaporates and leaves calcium carbonate behind.
Word
Pronunciation
Meaning
limestone
A sedimentary rock made from the shells of dead
sea creatures.
magma
Molten rock beneath the surface of the Earth.
marble
A metamorphic rock formed from limestone.
metamorphic
met-a-mor-fik
A word meaning ‘changed’.
metamorphic
rocks
met-a-mor-fik
Rocks that have been formed by changing igneous
or sedimentary rocks.
mudstone
quartzite
A sedimentary rock made from mud.
kwartz-ite
A metamorphic rock formed from sandstone.
sandstone
A sedimentary rock made from rounded grains of
sand.
slate
A metamorphic rock with tiny crystals, formed
from mudstone.
Word
Pronunciation
Meaning
basalt
ba-salt
An igneous rock with very tiny crystals.
bonds
Forces holding particles together.
crust
The solid rocks at the surface of the Earth.
crystal
kris-tal
Piece of mineral with sharp edges.
granite
gran-it
An igneous rock with large crystals.
igneous rock
igg-nee-us
A rock formed when magma or lava cooled down
and solidified.
lava
lar-va
Molten rock that runs out of volcanoes.
magma
mantle
Molten rock beneath the surface of the Earth.
man-tel
The part of the Earth below the crust.
particles
The tiny pieces that everything is made out of.
volcano
A place where lava flows out of the Earth.
Word
rock cycle
Pronunciation
Meaning
All the processes which form sedimentary,
igneous and metamorphic rocks, linked together.