Year 7-Assessment Task
Earths Changing Face (Hardness)
Instructions:
You will be given 5 tasks to complete in the period. Work with a partner, but record your own
answers. Record your observations and responses on the answer sheet.
1.) Soil Analysis : Soils are closely related to the parent rock from which they originated. Examine
the sample of soil provided, using a binocular microscope.
i)
Draw a sketch of the soil in the space provided.
ii)
Identify and record how many different minerals you believe are present in the soil.
iii)
Comment on whether the soil came largely from a dark coloured parent rock or a light
coloured parent rock. Give a reason for your answer.
2.) Crystal Size : It is a well established fact that fast forming crystals are small and slow growing
crystals are large. Examine the two dishes containing a mix of copper sulfate and alum crystals
(you may wish to use the magnifying glass provided). State which one formed slowly and
which one formed quickly. Give a reason for your answer.
3.) Igneous Rocks : Gabbro and basalt have the same minerals except that gabbro formed
slowly(plutonic) and basalt(volcanic)formed quickly. Examine the two rocks and work out
which is gabbro and which is basalt.
4.) Sedimentary Rocks: Some of the more common sedimentary rocks are sandstone, shale and
conglomerate. Sandstone contains uniform sand sized particles. Conglomerate contains
assorted water washed particles ranging from small to large. Shale is made up of particles so
small that you cannot see them. Examine the three sedimentary rocks and determine which is
sandstone, which is shale and which is conglomerate. Draw a labelled diagram showing the
main differences between each sample.
5.) Mineral Identification: Quartz and calcite are similar coloured minerals. Quartz is much harder
than calcite. Calcite breaks into cubic crystals ( 3 cleavages) whereas broken quartz has no
clean faces ( 0 cleavages). You have been provided with a piece of pink feldspar. It has a
hardness between that of quartz and calcite. Determine which mineral is quartz and which is
calcite. (We will not be concerned if you leave scratches on some of our minerals!)
Name: ……………………..
Science Unit Curriculum K–12 Directorate
NSW Department of Education and Training
Oxley High School
Year 7 assessment task
page 1 of 3
Answer Sheet
1i.)
ii.) …………………………………………………………………………………………
iii.) ………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. )
Dish on left formed
………………………….
Dish on right formed …………………………
Reasons : ………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3.) Rock 1 is basalt / gabbro.
Rock 2 is basalt / gabbro
4.) Rock 1 : ……………
Rock 2 : ………………
5.) Mineral 1 is …………………………….
Mineral 2 is …………………………….
Science Unit Curriculum K–12 Directorate
NSW Department of Education and Training
Rock 3 : …………………
Oxley High School
Year 7 assessment task
page 2 of 3
Marking Scheme
Grade
A
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B
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C
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D
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E
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A student :
Demonstrates ability to accurately draw microscope diagrams, identifying a
scale.
Relates parent rock to soil colour correctly.
Can relate crystal size to rate of cooling in both Q2 & Q3.
Can produce labeled diagrams that clearly demonstrate major features from
observations (Q4).
Correctly identifies shale, sandstone & conglomerate.
Can determine mineral hardness (Q5)
Demonstrates ability to accurately draw microscope diagrams that do not
include a scale.
Relates parent rock to soil colour correctly.
Can relate crystal size to rate of cooling in both Q2 & Q3.
Can produce labelled diagrams that clearly demonstrate major features from
observations (Q4).
Correctly identifies shale, sandstone & conglomerate.
Can determine mineral hardness (Q5)
Demonstrates ability to accurately draw microscope diagrams that do not
include a scale.
Relates parent rock to soil colour correctly.
Can relate crystal size to rate of cooling in either Q2 or Q3.
Can produce labelled diagrams that demonstrate major features from
observations (Q4).
Identifies only one of shale, sandstone & conglomerate.
Can determine mineral hardness(Q5)
Demonstrates ability to draw microscope diagrams that do not include a scale.
Relates parent rock to soil colour correctly.
Can relate crystal size to rate of cooling in either Q2 or Q3.
Struggles to produce diagrams that demonstrate major features from
observations(Q4).
Identifies only one of shale, sandstone & conglomerate.
Cannot cope with mineral hardness(Q5)
Demonstrates ability to draw microscope diagrams that do not include a scale.
Has difficulty relating parent rock to soil colour correctly.
Has difficulty relating crystal size to rate of cooling in either Q2 or Q3.
Struggles to produce diagrams that demonstrate major features from
observations (Q4).
Identifies neither shale, sandstone nor conglomerate.
Cannot cope with mineral hardness(Q5)
Science Unit Curriculum K–12 Directorate
NSW Department of Education and Training
Oxley High School
Year 7 assessment task
page 3 of 3