The rock cycle

Teacher notes

This lesson links to the Volcanoes lesson plans (secondary and primary), but if using both, teach this one **second**. Glossary: A geologist is a scientist who studies the matter that constitutes Earth or other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, although backgrounds in physics, chemistry, biology, and other sciences are also useful. Field research is an important component of geology, although many sub- disciplines incorporate laboratory and digitalised work. This lesson is adaptable for KS2 - KS5. **Lyfta core themes:** Natural Environment, Professions and Entrepreneurship, Technology and Engineering. **Lyfta core skills and values:**Environment and Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Information Retrieval, Research. **SDGs:** 15. **National Curriculum Objectives (England):** KS2 Geography Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle. KS3 Geography - Understand, through the use of detailed place-based exemplars at a variety of scales, the key processes in physical geography relating to: geological timescales and plate tectonics; rocks, weathering and soils; weather and climate, including the change in climate from the Ice Age to the present; and glaciation, hydrology and coasts. KS4 Geography (board specific) - Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are the result of physical processes - The interdependence of climate, water, soils, plants, animals and people. KS5 Geography (board specific) - System and Processes (water cycle, deserts, coasts etc) - Sediment sources, cells and budgets - Geomorphological processes: weathering, mass movement, erosion, transportation and deposition - Distinctively arid geomorphological processes: weathering (thermal fracture, exfoliation, chemical weathering, block and granular disintegration) - The role of wind – erosion: deflation and abrasion; transportation; suspension, saltation, surface creep, deposition. KS3 Science - The structure of the Earth - The rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. KS4 Science (Board Specific) - Chemistry; The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere.