Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT
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UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 2
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 13
Grade code: B8.5.6.1.1
Strand code: 5
Sub-strand code: 5
Content standard code: B8.5.6.1
Indicator code: B8.5.6.1.1
Theme: HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Subtheme: UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT
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Rocks are all around us in Ghana—on our roads, in our farms, in river beds, in quarries, and even in the stones used for building houses. Understanding rocks helps learners to: identify useful rocks for construction and farming, understand how soil forms through weathering, appreciate how human activities (mining, quarrying, farming) affect the environment. This lesson focuses on observing and describing different types of rocks using visible characteristics (what we can see and feel), as required by Indicator B8.5.6.1.1.
2.1 What is a rock? A rock is a natural solid material made up of one or more minerals. Rocks form the Earth’s crust and occur in many forms. 2.2 Main types of rocks (basic classification) At JHS level, we group rocks into three main types based on how they form: Igneous rocks Form when magma or lava cools and solidifies. Key visible clues: Often have crystals/grains that look like tiny pieces joined together. Usually no layers. May have holes/air spaces (especially volcanic rocks like pumice/scoria).
Examples in Ghanaian context Granite (common in quarries; used for chippings and building) Basalt (dark, fine-grained; sometimes found in volcanic areas) Sedimentary rocks Form when sediments (sand, mud, small stones, shells) are deposited in layers, then pressed and cemented over time. Key visible clues: Often show layers/strata. May contain fossils or visible grains stuck together. Can be crumbly compared to igneous rocks.
Examples Sandstone (looks sandy; grains may be visible) Limestone (may look chalky; used for cement manufacture) Shale (very fine layers; breaks into thin sheets) Metamorphic rocks Form when existing rocks change due to heat and pressure inside the Earth (without melting). Key visible clues: May have bands or wavy lines (foliation). Often hard and compact. Crystals may look re-arranged or aligned.
Examples Gneiss (banded light and dark layers) Marble (from limestone; often smooth, crystalline) Slate (splits into flat sheets; used for roofing/tiles in some places)