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Issue 54
AT HOME WITH
EARTH SCIENCE
Earth Science in the Home
Registered Charity No. 1005331
Introduction
This PEST concentrates on the use of rocks and minerals in everyday household objects
found inside the home. It links to KS 2 QCA Unit 3D, and National Curriculum Programmes
of Study Sc1. 1a; Sc3 1a, 1b. Many objects in the home can be identified as being made
from or containing rocks or minerals. By using the different rooms in a typical house, and
looking at common items found there, it can be demonstrated how much we rely on rocks
for our everyday life. Information is also included relating to which rocks and minerals are
used. The School environment will be dealt with in a similar way in the next PEST.
Background Information
Minerals are mixed together within the Earth to form magma, this may cool to form igneous
rocks either at the surface (e.g. basalt, pumice or obsidian), or underground (e.g. granite).
Existing rocks may be subjected to changes by the pressure and heat within the Earth,
and become metamorphic rocks (e.g. slate from clay, marble from limestone). All rocks are
subjected to weathering at the Earth’s surface and if the sediments from this process
become cemented together they form sedimentary rocks. All these rocks contain distinct
groups of minerals and each mineral has different properties. These properties are used to
make a wide range of everyday objects, which we use without realising their (rocky) origin.
Activities
These will depend on when this is done within the topic and children’s previous knowledge.
Preparatory or follow up work (as homework) – children look around their homes to try to
identify any items they think contain minerals or a type of rock.
In class, they will need to have discussed the uses of rocks and minerals and how they
relate to their properties. Show them specific examples of items found in the home that
may not immediately appear to use rock (e.g. toothpaste, cereal).
Then use the blank diagram of the house to list the items containing rocks or minerals that
you might have in this room in your house.
Differentiated work – pupils could alternatively draw items in the appropriate room,
possibly using an A3 sheet, or groups could work on different rooms.
In pairs or small groups, children research how rocks and minerals are used to
manufacture some of the items.
Depth and type of work will also depend on the age group.
The section “Where to Look”, on pages 2 and 4, will help you to aid the children at an
appropriate level and could be adapted for children to use either with or without the
worksheet on page 3.
Issue 54 G At Home with Earth Science
Where to Look
In the kitchen
The fixtures and fittings may include wall tiles, work surfaces and floor tiles. These can be
made from both china clay and ball clay, which in turn are made from weathered granite.
Some work surfaces and floor tiles are made from polished slate, marble or granite and
floors may be made from sandstone slabs. In addition, work surfaces and wall tiles can be
of plastic, which is made from oil and limestone. Sinks are commonly of stainless steel
made from iron ore, limestone and coke with chromium or nickel added to make the steel
resistant to stains. Alternatively, sinks can be plastic or ceramic (made from clay as the
tiles). Other fittings found in the kitchen include a cooker, fridge, washing machine and
dishwasher. The frames of these are made from steel, but without nickel or chromium
being added, and plastic. Glass in the windows and in cupboard doors is made from silica
and limestone.
In the kitchen cupboards
Within the kitchen there are usually a number of pans, commonly made of stainless steel;
aluminium, from the mineral bauxite; or cast iron, made from iron and cast into shape, for
heavy frying pans. Crockery, such as cups, saucers, plates and dishes, are usually made
from clay (china clay for the glaze and ball clay for strength) these can also be made of
plastic. Knives, forks and spoons are made from stainless steel, nickel covered in silver
plate or even solid silver or gold alloys. These metals are used for their strength and stain
resistant properties. Drinking glasses may be made of glass or plastic, the properties of
the latter mean it is not as easy to break.
On the meal table
Some of the foods on the table have small quantities of minerals added when it is
prepared at the factories, these are minerals our bodies need. Some foods contain
minerals that they absorbed from the soil as they grew. For example, calcium becomes
part of the soil from the weathering process of limestone or chalk, the grass then absorbs
it from the soil into its leaves, the cows eat the leaves and as the milk is formed inside the
cows the calcium is passed into the milk. We need calcium for our bones and teeth to
grow strong. Look at the cereal packets and see what minerals are added to make the
food healthier. Some of the additives in cereals are – calcium from limestone; potassium
from granite; magnesium from dolomitic limestone; salt (sodium chloride) from halite; zinc;
iron. Cereal packets are made from wood pulp with china clay added to give weight.
In the lounge
The fireplace surround could be made from cast iron, steel, natural stone or ceramics.
An electric fire has copper wire wound on a bar producing heat when electricity is passed
through it. Within a central heating system, hot water is pumped through copper pipes to
warm a steel radiator, which in turn warms the air within the room. In most lounges there is
a television set which, together with computers and radios, contains silica for the circuit
boards with silver solder, gold for the connections and copper for the connecting wires.
The frames are of aluminium or steel, the case is plastic and the screen is glass. Electric
light bulbs contain tungsten (a corrosion-resistant metal) filaments inside a glass globe.
A telephone is made from plastic with copper wires within. Books and magazines are
made of wood pulp but have china clay added to make the paper glossy and to add
weight. The walls and the doors may be painted; paint is composed of two major parts
called pigments and fillers. Today titanium is added to make the white pigment; previously
white lead and zinc were used until the poisonous effects of lead were discovered. Other
metals are added to give colour, e.g. iron oxide to make different browns. Calcite from
chalk is added for use as a filler in white paint.
Issue 54 G Home with Earth Science
Worksheet
At Home with Rocks and Minerals
In each room, write or draw the items containing rock(s) or mineral(s) that might be found
there: paper, toothpaste, roofing felt, paint, wall tiles, glass, plastic floor tiles, television set,
computer, cups, saucers, plates, knives, forks, spoons, sink, fireplace, bleach, insulating
wool, cooker, spanner, bed head, shower, saucepans, power tools, central heating system,
washing machine, talcum powder, salt, light bulbs, bath, car, coat hangers, screw driver,
mirror, fridge, hanging rail, telephone. What others can you think of? Add them as well.
LOFT
GARAGE
BEDROOM
BATHROOM
KITCHEN
LOUNGE
Issue 54 G Home with Earth Science
In the bedroom
Some bed heads are made from steel or “wrought iron” (made by heating steel bars and
bending them into shape); coat hangers made from steel wire, covered in plastic or made
of just plastic, hung on rails in wardrobes, which are made of stainless steel or plastic.
There may be mirrors, which are made of stainless steel, polished aluminium or glass with
leaded paint on the back.
In the bathroom
The bath may be made from iron, steel or plastic. On the bath and basin are taps made of
stainless steel or nickel chromium. If there is a shower the showerheads will be aluminium,
stainless steel or plastic. The hand basin is made of ceramic clay, plastic or stainless steel.
Bathrooms may have wall tiles like the kitchen. Toothpaste contains calcium to help keep
our teeth strong. Talcum powder is made from the softest known mineral, talc.
In the loft
Roofing felt is fitted under the roof tiles to help waterproof the roof. It is made from layers
of glass fibre and bitumen (naturally occurring tar or asphalt). The floor of the loft holds a
layer of insulation material, made from glass fibres and silica that reduces the amount of
heat escaping through the roof.
In the garage
Inside some garages there are tools. Spanners and screwdrivers are made of steel with plastic
handles. There may be some electric tools like power drills. These are made from steel and
most have a plastic cover over the electric motor. The motor consists of copper wires around
a steel shaft. There may be a car in the garage. The car bodies are mostly made of steel but
some are made of fibreglass or aluminium. The engines are made of toughened steel or a
lighter-weight alloy. An alloy is a mixture of different metals that gives a strong but lighter case.
Resources
Provide examples of some of the items from the above list together with samples of the
rock(s) or minerals used in the manufacture of each item.
Possible sources for research:
● Topic collection of books from school library/schools library service
● Encyclopaedias – books or CD ROM
● Internet search engines.
Forthcoming events where ESTA Primary Team Members will be providing
workshops, resources and useful information.
ESTA Conference, Bristol, 15th – 17th September 2006. www.esta-uk.org
ASE Conference, Birmingham, 4th – 6th January 2007. www.ase.org.uk
Full details are available from the respective web sites.
COPYRIGHT
There is no copyright on original material published in
Teaching Primary Earth Science if it is required for
teaching in the classroom. Copyright material
reproduced by permission of other publications rests
with the original publishers. To reproduce original
material from PEST in other publications permission
must be sought from the Earth Science Primary group
via Peter York, at the address right.
This issue was devised and written Diane Payne and
Geoff Selby-Sly, National Stone Centre and ESTA
Primary Team.
Edited by Niki Whitburn, ESTA Primary Team.
To subscribe to: Teaching Primary Earth Science
send £5.00 cheque made payable to ESTA.
c/o Mr Peter York,
346 Middlewood Road North,
Oughtibridge, Sheffield S35 0HF