become a geologist! make a rock portfolio · draw a picture or take a photo of a rock....

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Become a Geologist!Make A Rock Portfolio

The science of studying rocks is called geology. Scientists who study rocks are called geologists.

In this investigation, you will become a geologist. You will observe, sort and categorise rocks according to their properties. You will make property lists and Venn diagrams.

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Equipment:• A selection of up to 10 rocks (or rock pictures)• A camera or phone• A ruler• A magnifying glass or hand lens• A coin• Some water and a teaspoon or dropper

A property is a

quality that helps to describe what an object or

substance is like – for example, shiny or dull, rough or smooth.

If you don’t have access to many or any rocks, you can use the rocks picture sheet

on the last page of this download.

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• Where did you find the rock?

• How do you think it got there?

• How would you describe its colour?

• How does it feel?

• Can you scratch it with your fingernail? (If so, it’s soft.)

• Can you scratch it with a coin? (If not, it’s hard.)

• If you drop a little water on the rock does it run off or does the rock absorb it?

• Can you see grains, crystals, holes or another interesting feature?

Did you know that geologist Friedrich Moh developed a

hardness scale for rocks, called Moh’s Scale? He knew that

observing properties such as how hard or soft a rock was would

help geologists understand what it was made of and how it formed. When scratching your rocks with a coin, think about how you could put your rocks in order according to hardness. Why might a rock’s hardness be useful information?

Method:1. Draw a picture or take a photo of a rock. Alternatively, cut out one of the rock pictures

from this download. Stick the picture into the first Rock Profile in your Portfolio. 2. Measure and record the size of your rock and describe its shape. 3. Now carefully observe your rock and use the rock questions below to describe

its properties. Add your observations to your Rock Profile using words from the Rock Word Bank.

4. Now examine another rock. How is it similar to or different from your first rock?5. Complete as many Rock Profiles in your Portfolio as possible.

Rough/smoothDull/shinyHard/softBumpy/jaggedPolishedSingle coloured Multicoloured

Crystalline (has crystals in it)GrainyCrumblySandyStriped/spottyShimmeryTranslucent

Transparent FlatRoundedPitted (tiny holes all over it)Absorbent/non-absorbent

Rock Word Bank


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Rock Property PortfolioRock Property Profile 1

Name of Rock: Properties

(insert picture/drawing of rock here

Rock Property Profile 2










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Grouping Rocks Using a Venn Diagram

One way that we can group rocks is by using a Venn diagram.

Choose two rock properties as titles for each circle in your Venn diagram. For example, the titles could be “Single Coloured” and “Smooth”.

Rock Properties Venn Diagram

Now use your maths and science skills to sort your rocks using Venn diagrams.

Do you notice any patterns between property features?

Do shiny rocks tend to be smooth as well?

Do rough rocks tend to be multicoloured?

Could this tell us more about what the rocks are made of?

Think about what your Venn diagram is showing you about your groups of rocks.

Single Coloured Smooth


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Rocks Picture Sheet

Igneous RocksIgneous Rocks

Red graniteAndesite

PeridotitePegmatite

Sedimentary RocksSedimentary Rocks

DolomiteBreccia ChertBanded ironstone

Metamorphic RocksMetamorphic Rocks

Hornfels Suevite

Jaspillite

Serpentinite

become a geologist! make a rock portfolio · draw a picture or take a photo of a rock....

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