How geologists work | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is a scientist?
- someone who acts in plays in the theatre
- someone who teaches children in a classroom
- someone who systematically gathers and uses research and evidence ✓
- someone who gathers crops from fields and sells the produce
A geologist is a scientist who studies ...
- animals
- plants
- rocks ✓
- human-made materials
- soils ✓
Which part of an investigation does a scientist use to find out if they have answered the question they are investigating?
- the plan
- the equipment
- the data ✓
Order the steps a scientist takes when carrying out an investigation.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Thinks of a question to investigate.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Makes a plan.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Collects the equipment and materials needed.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Carries out the investigation.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Records the data.
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Analyses the data to answer their question.
Scientists use data to help them answer questions. Look at the data on this image. Which questions does this data help you to answer?
- Which is the prettiest rock?
- Which is the hardest rock? ✓
- Which is the most expensive rock?
- Which is the softest rock? ✓
- Which is the most permeable rock?
Scientists ______ things closely with a hand lens or digital microscope to help them answer questions.
- 'observe' ✓

Exit quiz

Which of the following do geologists study?
- rainbows
- volcanoes ✓
- rivers ✓
- glaciers ✓
- bones
Where might a geologist work?
- a cafe
- a zoo
- a space agency ✓
- a hairdressers
- a police station
What do all the things that geologist study have in common?
- They contain the material metal.
- They contain the material plastic.
- They contain the material rock. ✓
- They contain the material water.
A geologist working for a space agency might observe rock that has come from ...
- my garden.
- the ocean.
- the Moon. ✓
- a cliff by the beach.
Geologists have to use data collected from a ______ distance to make their observations of planets, including Mars.
- 'long' ✓
How do geologists get the data they observe from Mars?
- They travel to Mars and collect it themselves.
- They ask an astronaut to bring some rocks back with them.
- They make it up, based on rocks they collect on Earth.
- They receive digital data collected by the Mars Rovers. ✓

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Geologists study volcanoes, rivers, glaciers, rocks and mountains.
Geologists can work in places such as space agencies and observe properties of rocks and soils collected from the Moon.
Geologists have to use data collected from a long distance to make their observations of planets including Mars.

Common misconception

Geologists only look at rocks and soils collected on Earth.

Geologists also work with data from space; sometimes this can be physical rock samples from the Moon and other times this is data that has been collected by the Mars Rovers and sent back to Earth for them to analyse from a distance.

Keywords

Geologist - A geologist is a scientist who studies what Earth and other planets are made from.
Data - Data is information collected during an investigation. It may be numbers, symbols, pictures or text.
Observation - We make observations when we look closely at something and use other senses too.
Moon rock - Moon rock is rock collected from the surface of the Moon.
Space agency - A space agency is an organisation that focuses on space exploration, aeronautics, and space transportation.