What rocks our world?
Mountains
(First half-term)
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
(Second half-term)
What are they?
Using an atlas, locate the highest peaks
in each of the 7 continents, identify to
which mountain ranges they belong and
in which countries the ranges are.
How are mountains formed?
Discover how mountain ranges are
formed and begin to understand the
composition of the earth.
Mountain climates
Learn the correct geographical
language to describe the features of
mountains and find out about mountain
climates.
The Alps
Research and understand the key
physical features of the Alps or the
Andes.
Making a mountain range
Recreate an area of either the Andes
or the Alps mountain ranges in a 3D
model.
Volcanoes
Identify the difference between a volcano and a mountain.
Explore what volcanoes are and how they are formed.
Find out what happens when a volcano erupts.
Identify the differences between active, dormant and extinct
volcanoes.
Investigate where volcanoes are found. Understand that
igneous rocks are produced as a result of volcanoes.
Build a virtual volcano.
Research specific volcanoes and label a volcano diagram.
Explore the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and how it
preserved the Roman town of Pompeii. What can we find out
about the Romans from Pompeii?
Earthquakes
Find out about the Earth’s tectonic plates and how these move
to create earthquakes.
Explore areas of the globe that are prone to earthquakes
because of fault lines.
Explore examples of earthquakes and the effects they had on
people and the landscape.
Tsunamis
Find out how tsunamis are caused by earthquakes under the
sea bed.
Explore the effects of tsunamis on people and the
environment.
Investigate the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
Rocks
Rock detectives
Revisit properties of materials. Explore ‘what we
know’ and ‘what we would like to know’ about rocks. Go
for a walk to identify how materials that come from
rocks are used in and around the school.
Under our feet
Explore what is under our feet – lots of rocks,
sometimes hidden by grass, soil, buildings, sea, etc.!
Find out how parts of the Earth’s crust move against
each other.
Types of rock
Look at a range of rock samples. Discuss igneous &
sedimentary (plus metamorphic) rocks. Take part in a
range of activities including testing hardness of
rocks, sorting rocks, finding information, drawing
rocks & finding out how pebbles & sand are formed.
Explore rocks
Take part in more practical workshop activities
including separating sand and stones by sieving, using
ICT to research rocks, looking up vocab in
dictionaries, sorting and naming rocks and testing the
effect of vinegar on rocks.
Fossils
Find out more about sedimentary rocks & how fossils
are formed from some animals and plants that die.
Properties of soil
Discuss how soil is formed and why it is important to
look after it. Closely observe a soil sample and record
what is found. Look at and draw a soil profile. Discuss
erosion.
Soil investigation
Look at images, and discuss the effects and causes of
flooding. Plan and carry out a practical investigation
about the permeability of 3 different types of soils
including measuring.