Compare igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, fossil formation, permeability and soil horizons. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Rocks, fossils & soil layers
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Which rock group forms over millions of years when layers of sand, mud, pebbles or shells are compacted and cemented together (such as sandstone, limestone and shale): sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
2. Which sedimentary rock is formed mainly from the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms and coral: limestone (and chalk) or granite?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
3. Which soil type has large, gritty particles with big air spaces so water drains through it very quickly: sandy soil or clay soil?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
4. Which lightweight volcanic igneous rock is so full of trapped gas bubbles that it can float on water: pumice or marble?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
5. What do we call a rock that does NOT allow water to pass through it because its crystals interlock tightly without gaps (such as granite or slate): an impermeable rock or a permeable rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
6. What is the dark, nutrient-rich organic material in topsoil formed from decomposed leaves, roots and animal remains: humus or magma?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
7. In a vertical soil profile, which uppermost layer contains the most humus, plant roots and soil organisms like earthworms: topsoil (A horizon) or solid bedrock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
8. In which type of rock are fossils of ancient plants and animals almost always found: sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
9. What do gardeners call an ideal balanced soil that mixes sand, silt, clay and humus so it holds moisture and nutrients while still draining well: loam or gravel?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
10. Why does intrusive igneous rock like granite have large, visible mineral crystals, whereas extrusive basalt has tiny crystals: granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow, or granite is made of sand?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
11. When limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust, what hard, crystalline metamorphic rock does it turn into (often used for statues and tiles): marble or sandstone?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
12. What are fossils: the preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years, or modern plastic models?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Rocks, fossils & soil layers
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Which rock group forms over millions of years when layers of sand, mud, pebbles or shells are compacted and cemented together (such as sandstone, limestone and shale): sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rocks form in layers (strata) from deposited and lithified sediments.
2. Which sedimentary rock is formed mainly from the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms and coral: limestone (and chalk) or granite?
Limestone (and chalk)
Limestone is a carbonate sedimentary rock built from ancient marine shells and coral reefs.
3. Which soil type has large, gritty particles with big air spaces so water drains through it very quickly: sandy soil or clay soil?
Sandy soil
Sand grains are relatively large, creating wide pore spaces that drain water rapidly.
4. Which lightweight volcanic igneous rock is so full of trapped gas bubbles that it can float on water: pumice or marble?
Pumice
Pumice forms from frothy lava rich in gas bubbles, giving it a density lower than water.
5. What do we call a rock that does NOT allow water to pass through it because its crystals interlock tightly without gaps (such as granite or slate): an impermeable rock or a permeable rock?
Impermeable rock
Impermeable rocks block water from soaking through, making slate ideal for roof tiles.
6. What is the dark, nutrient-rich organic material in topsoil formed from decomposed leaves, roots and animal remains: humus or magma?
Humus
Humus retains moisture and supplies essential mineral nutrients to growing plant roots.
7. In a vertical soil profile, which uppermost layer contains the most humus, plant roots and soil organisms like earthworms: topsoil (A horizon) or solid bedrock?
Topsoil (A horizon)
Topsoil is the fertile surface layer where seeds germinate and most roots and decomposers live.
8. In which type of rock are fossils of ancient plants and animals almost always found: sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary layers gently bury remains in mud or sand; the extreme heat of magma destroys fossils in igneous rock.
9. What do gardeners call an ideal balanced soil that mixes sand, silt, clay and humus so it holds moisture and nutrients while still draining well: loam or gravel?
Loam
Loamy soil combines the good drainage of sand with the moisture and nutrient retention of silt, clay and humus.
10. Why does intrusive igneous rock like granite have large, visible mineral crystals, whereas extrusive basalt has tiny crystals: granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow, or granite is made of sand?
Granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow
Slow cooling of magma underground allows large interlocking crystals to form; lava on the surface cools rapidly into tiny crystals.
11. When limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust, what hard, crystalline metamorphic rock does it turn into (often used for statues and tiles): marble or sandstone?
Marble
Marble is metamorphosed limestone.
12. What are fossils: the preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years, or modern plastic models?
The preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years
Fossils provide direct evidence of how organisms and environments have changed over geological time.
12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Rocks, fossils & soil layers
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Which rock group forms over millions of years when layers of sand, mud, pebbles or shells are compacted and cemented together (such as sandstone, limestone and shale): sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
2. Which sedimentary rock is formed mainly from the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms and coral: limestone (and chalk) or granite?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
3. Which soil type has large, gritty particles with big air spaces so water drains through it very quickly: sandy soil or clay soil?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
4. Which lightweight volcanic igneous rock is so full of trapped gas bubbles that it can float on water: pumice or marble?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
5. What do we call a rock that does NOT allow water to pass through it because its crystals interlock tightly without gaps (such as granite or slate): an impermeable rock or a permeable rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
6. What is the dark, nutrient-rich organic material in topsoil formed from decomposed leaves, roots and animal remains: humus or magma?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
7. In a vertical soil profile, which uppermost layer contains the most humus, plant roots and soil organisms like earthworms: topsoil (A horizon) or solid bedrock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
8. In which type of rock are fossils of ancient plants and animals almost always found: sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
9. What do gardeners call an ideal balanced soil that mixes sand, silt, clay and humus so it holds moisture and nutrients while still draining well: loam or gravel?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
10. Why does intrusive igneous rock like granite have large, visible mineral crystals, whereas extrusive basalt has tiny crystals: granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow, or granite is made of sand?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
11. When limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust, what hard, crystalline metamorphic rock does it turn into (often used for statues and tiles): marble or sandstone?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
12. What are fossils: the preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years, or modern plastic models?
Topsoil → Subsoil → Bedrock
12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Rocks, fossils & soil layers
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Which rock group forms over millions of years when layers of sand, mud, pebbles or shells are compacted and cemented together (such as sandstone, limestone and shale): sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rocks form in layers (strata) from deposited and lithified sediments.
2. Which sedimentary rock is formed mainly from the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms and coral: limestone (and chalk) or granite?
Limestone (and chalk)
Limestone is a carbonate sedimentary rock built from ancient marine shells and coral reefs.
3. Which soil type has large, gritty particles with big air spaces so water drains through it very quickly: sandy soil or clay soil?
Sandy soil
Sand grains are relatively large, creating wide pore spaces that drain water rapidly.
4. Which lightweight volcanic igneous rock is so full of trapped gas bubbles that it can float on water: pumice or marble?
Pumice
Pumice forms from frothy lava rich in gas bubbles, giving it a density lower than water.
5. What do we call a rock that does NOT allow water to pass through it because its crystals interlock tightly without gaps (such as granite or slate): an impermeable rock or a permeable rock?
Impermeable rock
Impermeable rocks block water from soaking through, making slate ideal for roof tiles.
6. What is the dark, nutrient-rich organic material in topsoil formed from decomposed leaves, roots and animal remains: humus or magma?
Humus
Humus retains moisture and supplies essential mineral nutrients to growing plant roots.
7. In a vertical soil profile, which uppermost layer contains the most humus, plant roots and soil organisms like earthworms: topsoil (A horizon) or solid bedrock?
Topsoil (A horizon)
Topsoil is the fertile surface layer where seeds germinate and most roots and decomposers live.
8. In which type of rock are fossils of ancient plants and animals almost always found: sedimentary rock or igneous rock?
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary layers gently bury remains in mud or sand; the extreme heat of magma destroys fossils in igneous rock.
9. What do gardeners call an ideal balanced soil that mixes sand, silt, clay and humus so it holds moisture and nutrients while still draining well: loam or gravel?
Loam
Loamy soil combines the good drainage of sand with the moisture and nutrient retention of silt, clay and humus.
10. Why does intrusive igneous rock like granite have large, visible mineral crystals, whereas extrusive basalt has tiny crystals: granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow, or granite is made of sand?
Granite cooled slowly deep underground, giving crystals time to grow
Slow cooling of magma underground allows large interlocking crystals to form; lava on the surface cools rapidly into tiny crystals.
11. When limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust, what hard, crystalline metamorphic rock does it turn into (often used for statues and tiles): marble or sandstone?
Marble
Marble is metamorphosed limestone.
12. What are fossils: the preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years, or modern plastic models?
The preserved remains, shells, bones or impressions of ancient living things turned to stone over millions of years
Fossils provide direct evidence of how organisms and environments have changed over geological time.
12 questions · Seed 104732 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification