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ScienceEarth's SystemsAges 7–10

Properties of materials

Compare and group different kinds of rocks based on their appearance and simple physical properties such as hardness, texture, and colour

Lesson

Set out your lesson

Group rocks by observable properties without guessing a rock type.

Before teaching

Activity

Ask the learner to explain one prerequisite idea before starting. If uncertain, revisit it; graph order is not learner readiness.

Policy

Check readiness rather than assuming source graph order establishes attainment.

Printer, credit, and teaching notes
Instructions

Use fictional specimen cards or adult-selected clean safe rocks. No breaking, tasting, dust-making or acid tests. Observe only; hardness not inferred from colour.

No Printer

Use the supplied stage cards on screen or scrap paper; adult key stays separate.

Materials are ready in each step. Use them on screen or print just the current step. Put teaching examples aside before the learner tries.

Next: Show

Adult extras
What this lesson covers and its limits

These are bounded opportunities, not learner attainment. Partial and blocked source requirements remain so.

  • partial: Compare and group different kinds of rocks based on their appearance and simple physical properties such as hardness, texture, and colour

    Bounded objective: Group rocks by observable properties without guessing a rock type. Fictional properties, not physical specimens. Real collection sorting and hardness measurement conditional/not performed.

  • partial: Describe at least three observable properties of rocks: hardness, texture, colour, grain size

    Colour/texture/grain size supplied; actual hardness unmeasured.

  • partial: Sort a collection of rocks into groups based on chosen properties

    Fictional collection sorted by stated property, not real rock handling.

  • partial: Compare two rocks and describe how their properties differ

    E/F differences compared from complete cards.

  • partial: Can {{name}} examine a collection of rocks and sort them by whether they're hard or crumbly, rough or smooth, and light or dark?

    Try offers new-supplied-data-classification for the bounded objective; it does not establish every part of the source assessment. Fictional properties, not physical specimens. Real collection sorting and hardness measurement conditional/not performed.

  • Fictional properties, not physical specimens. Real collection sorting and hardness measurement conditional/not performed.

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Family records and proof options

Keep a record of your learning

Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.

Learning resources

Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson

States of Matter: Basics

Open practice (new tab)
Before you open · source notes

States of Matter: Basics supports hands-on exploration for Properties of materials. Not every lab worksheet.

Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.

Before you open

Ask the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.

Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.

Source, access and review notes

Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.

PhET Interactive Simulations. “States of Matter: Basics.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.

Unknown — link only

Check understanding

  • Describe at least three observable properties of rocks: hardness, texture, colour, grain size
  • Sort a collection of rocks into groups based on chosen properties
  • Compare two rocks and describe how their properties differ
“Can your child examine a collection of rocks and sort them by whether they're hard or crumbly, rough or smooth, and light or dark?”

Curriculum record

Type
Conceptual
Subject
Science
Domain
Earth's Systems
Age range
Ages 7–10

Standards

acara-v9:AC9S3U02the-ontario-curriculum-science-and-technology-20:ON-SCI-2022-G4-E2.2the-ontario-curriculum-science-and-technology-20:ON-SCI-2022-G4-E2.3uk-nc-2013:Y3.Sci.R.1