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Appendices

12 Key Stage 3-4 example of theme: Limestone
The world's most useful rock

Many aspects of science and a number of issues in geography and citizenship can be studied using limestone as a central theme. Delivery of some of these can also utilise English (through drama/role play), mathematics, (manipulation of statistics) and ICT. So, not only, in industrial terms, but in the teaching sphere, limestone can be dubbed 'the World's most useful rock'. Clearly the subject can be considered at various levels and some aspects were referred to in passing in Appendix 11 for KS2. However, 'limestone" really comes into its own in KS 3-4. The basic concepts, reactions, arguments, etc., can be readily understood at this level. Not only can these be developed through KS3 into KS4, they can be extended into AS-A level and post-school studies with increasing levels of sophistication.

However, it should be noted in passing that over the last few years (a) science has not usually been taught using overarching themes (b) despite the obvious synergy between issues and concepts raised in major subjects e.g. science and geography, this is infrequently acknowledged explicitly in teaching programmes. Fortunately, there are signs that both these aspects and approaches may become more popular in future.

Much of the material in this Appendix was prepared in whole or in part by the NSC for the JESEI website geared specifically to KS3-4 science, but as already noted, has equal validity in other teaching areas, notably geography. The full list of JESEI contents is reproduced as Appendix 13. It includes four modules with a limestone-related theme:

(a) The Chemical Weathering of Limestone: my breath and rock chippings from the car park.
(b) The Chemistry of Limestone
(c) The Limestone Inquiry, 21st Century
(d) Limestone in your everyday life

The last three modules have been reproduced here more or less completely and are summarised as follows. The permission of JESEI to include these here is gratefully acknowledged.

The Chemistry of Limestone module comprises:

An introduction (includes experiment) Teacher's notes (includes experiment) Student's material Appendix

See further details of the Chemistry of Limestone module

The Limestone Inquiry module comprises:

Teacher's Notes General Briefing Note Specific (group) briefing notes (x 7) Maps showing resources and designated landscape areas Flowchart of a quarry operation.

See further details of the Limestone Inquiry module

Limestone in your everyday life module comprises:

Teachers Notes (including a summary of generic end uses) Early morning log sheet from 6.30 a.m.-8.42 a.m.

See further details of the Limestone in your everyday life module

Although these and other JESEI modules are designed to be used in a laboratory or classroom setting, they can form useful pre- or post-visit briefing.

In addition to the above a larger version of the quarry flow diagram (contained in the second module above) designed by the NSC, is also reproduced as part of Appendix 12 (Limestone Inquiry module. See GB1 (General)).

Being a widely occurring rock with commercially important chemical properties and often containing fossils, having many outcrops giving rise to distinctive and dramatic scenery, limestone can be studied in innumerable ways - in terms of chemistry, biodiversity (modern counterparts and at the time of deposition), the environmental issues raised by its extraction, the historical influence of working on industrial development and as a source of artistic inspiration. Limestone has been dubbed as "the world's most useful rock" and this is certainly true as a teaching tool.

Some of these aspects also of course apply to igneous rock, sandstone, sand, gravel and metamorphic rocks but not to the same, all-embracing degree. Nevertheless limestone will serve as a useful illustration of how rock-related topics can be applied in general.

The JESEI site (visit www.jesei.org or www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnet/jesei/) contains the full versions of these modules and many others some of which have a particular bearing on sandstone and on igneous and metamorphic rocks.

The Limestone Inquiry was closely modelled on an ASE module updated in line with current (2003) planning practice (for which permission is acknowledged). A number of educational centres e.g. the National Stone Centre and Losehill Hall in Derbyshire, East Mendips Study Centre, Somerset, can offer practical sessions along similar lines. The same ideas are replicated in a number of science and geography text books.

Limestone

Being a widely occurring rock with commercially important chemical properties and often containing fossils, having many outcrops giving rise to distinctive and dramatic scenery, limestone can be studied in innumerable ways - in terms of chemistry, biodiversity (modern counterparts and at the time of deposition), the environmental issues raised by its extraction, the historical influence of working on industrial development and as a source of artistic inspiration.

Some of these aspects also of course apply to igneous rock, sandstone, sand/gravel and metamorphic rocks but not to the same, all-embracing degree. Nevertheless limestone will serve as a useful illustration of how rock-related topics can be applied in general.