Skills you learn from Geology (Year 9)

This is one of three lesson plans for teachers introducing Geology to Year 9 students:

• Jobs that use Geology (Year 9)
• Skills you learn from Geology (Year 9)
• Why study GCSE Geology? (Year 9)

These lesson plans will help you show students how Geology connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the end of the autumn term. Geology isn't usually taught as a standalone Year 9 subject, but most students will have encountered Geology-flavoured content through Science (the rock cycle, plate tectonics, fossils) and Geography (landscapes, weathering, hazards). Drawing on that gives students real material to reflect on, and sets them up for GCSE choices in the spring.

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Learning objectives

• Students will understand that Geology builds a broad range of transferable skills.
• Students will be able to name 2-3 skills the subject builds and give examples from related learning.

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Before the lesson

• You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
• Open the What can you do with Geology? page and have it ready on the screen.
• Review the Skills that Geology builds section and think of examples from KS3 Science (rocks, the rock cycle, plate tectonics) and Geography (weathering, erosion, hazards) that students will recall - plus any field trips or local landscape features.

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During the lesson

1. What have we noticed about rocks and landscapes? (5 mins)

• Ask students to call out anything they've covered in Science, Geography, or on a field trip that relates to rocks, the ground, or how landscapes form.
• Prompt them: rock types, the rock cycle, volcanoes and earthquakes, fossils, cliffs and coastlines, mountains, quarries.
• Write the suggestions on the board and highlight any patterns.

2. Skills that Geology builds (15 mins)

• Bring up the What can you do with Geology? page on the classroom screen.
• Review the contents of the page with students so that they understand what it covers.
• Scroll to the Skills that Geology builds section and work through each skill in turn.
  • Ask students where they've encountered that skill in Science, Geography, or on a field trip.
  • Share your own teaching examples if students are stuck.

3. Making it personal (10 mins)

• Ask students to pick 2-3 skills from the list they feel they've started to develop.
• Go round the class, asking each student to name one skill and give an example of when they used it.
• Close by reminding students that these are valuable skills for work and life, not just for exams.

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After the lesson

• Share the What can you do with Geology? page with students and their parents/carers:
  • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-geology
• Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
• Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
  • Activity name: Year 09 - Skills you learn from Geology
  • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers
• Read the follow-on lesson plan:
  • Why study GCSE Geology? (Year 9)