Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Medium · about 35 min
💎 Crystal Cave Explorers
Pupils practise curiosity and problem solving through "Crystal Cave Explorers": Dive into the cave and solve science puzzles about materials and light.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 💎 mission title and read the opening: "Scan the cave entrance.". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 7 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Crystal Cave Explorers", and why?
- Why do the crystals glitter — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Your torch dims. Which circuit fault is most likely — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Deep chamber: a puddle disappears overnight. What happened — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
- National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information
Pupil sheet
💎 Crystal Cave Explorers
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Scan the cave entrance.
Clue — The walls: Wet, cold rock. Water drips and pools on the floor.
Clue — The crystals: They glitter when your torch hits them — light bounces back.
Clue — The air: Warmer deeper in. Something down there is giving off heat.
2. Why do the crystals glitter?
☐ They make their own light
☐ They reflect your torchlight
☐ They are hot
3. Match each material to its property.
Metal → ________________
Rubber → ________________
Glass → ________________
Rock → ________________
4. Your torch dims. Which circuit fault is most likely?
☐ The battery is running out
☐ The bulb got heavier
☐ The cave is too big
5. Order the water cycle happening in the cave.
___ Droplets form
___ It cools
___ Vapour rises
___ Water drips down
___ Water evaporates
6. Deep chamber: a puddle disappears overnight. What happened?
☐ Evaporation
☐ Freezing
☐ It was drunk by crystals
7. Design a fair test to find which cave rock is hardest.