The Rock CycleThe Rock Cycle

By Kathy PayneBy Kathy Payne

ObjectivesObjectives

Construct a model of the rock cycleConstruct a model of the rock cycle

Diagram the model of a rock cycleDiagram the model of a rock cycle

Draw conclusionsDraw conclusions

EngageEngage

How do rocks form?How do rocks form?

How long does it take rocks to form?How long does it take rocks to form?

Where do rocks come from?Where do rocks come from?

Are rocks forming right now?Are rocks forming right now?

Why don’t all rocks look the same?Why don’t all rocks look the same?

These questions and more can be These questions and more can be answered by learning about a cycle answered by learning about a cycle

in nature called…in nature called…

Since the cycle takes millions of years to Since the cycle takes millions of years to occur, we will have to study a model to occur, we will have to study a model to help us understand what happens.help us understand what happens.

The Rock CycleThe Rock Cycle

MaterialsMaterialsCrayons Crayons

Paper platesPaper plates

Wax paper (2 sheets)Wax paper (2 sheets)

Plastic knife Plastic knife – WARNING!!! The blade can cut skin, so be very WARNING!!! The blade can cut skin, so be very

careful.careful.

Card boardCard board

FoilFoil

Clothes pinClothes pin

Chart paperChart paper

Science journalScience journal

ExploreExplore Use a pencil sharpener to shave the crayons Use a pencil sharpener to shave the crayons

into a small cup. into a small cup. • By breaking the crayons into smaller pieces, we By breaking the crayons into smaller pieces, we

modeled the process called… modeled the process called…

weathering.weathering.Place one pinch of each color in a pile on Place one pinch of each color in a pile on Plate 1.Plate 1.

• The pieces of crayon represent products called…The pieces of crayon represent products called…

sediments.sediments.

Move one color of the crayon pieces to the Move one color of the crayon pieces to the center of a piece of wax paper. center of a piece of wax paper.

Make a pile that covers about 6 cm by 6 cm in Make a pile that covers about 6 cm by 6 cm in area. area.

– By moving the sediments to a new location, you By moving the sediments to a new location, you are modeling the process called…are modeling the process called…

erosionerosion..

Add a new layer of crayons on top of the pile.Add a new layer of crayons on top of the pile.– By laying down the sediments, you are modeling By laying down the sediments, you are modeling

the process called…the process called…

depositiondeposition..

Cover the pile with another sheet of wax Cover the pile with another sheet of wax paper.paper.

Carefully place the wax paper & crayons Carefully place the wax paper & crayons between two pieces of cardboards. between two pieces of cardboards.

Press on the cardboard to apply even, vertical Press on the cardboard to apply even, vertical pressure.pressure.– You are modeling the pressure that is applied to You are modeling the pressure that is applied to

the sediments after they are buried inside the the sediments after they are buried inside the Earth.Earth.

Remove the cardboards. Carefully Remove the cardboards. Carefully remove the wax paper from the crayon remove the wax paper from the crayon sandwich. sandwich.

Place a small amount of the material in Place a small amount of the material in Plate 2. Plate 2. – The product represents a type of rock that is The product represents a type of rock that is

called…called…

Sedimentary rockSedimentary rock……

because it is made of sediments.because it is made of sediments.

Replace the wax paper on the crayon Replace the wax paper on the crayon sandwich and carefully place inside a sandwich and carefully place inside a book.book.Place the book on the floor and have Place the book on the floor and have someone stand on it for 1 minute applying someone stand on it for 1 minute applying even greater pressure than before.even greater pressure than before.

With the pressure, friction is creating some With the pressure, friction is creating some heat along with the heat from Earth.heat along with the heat from Earth.– You are now modeling the pressure that is You are now modeling the pressure that is

applied when rocks are buried at greater applied when rocks are buried at greater depths inside the Earth.depths inside the Earth.

Carefully remove the crayon sandwich Carefully remove the crayon sandwich from the book. Remove the top wax from the book. Remove the top wax paper.paper.

Place a small piece of the crayon Place a small piece of the crayon sandwich in Plate 3. sandwich in Plate 3. – The product represents a type of rock that is The product represents a type of rock that is

called… called…

Metamorphic RockMetamorphic Rock

which means “to change”.which means “to change”.

Crimp the edges of a piece of aluminum Crimp the edges of a piece of aluminum foil to make a holder (boat).foil to make a holder (boat).

Place the remainder of the crayon Place the remainder of the crayon sandwich on the aluminum foil without the sandwich on the aluminum foil without the wax paper.wax paper.

Use a clothes pin as a handle.Use a clothes pin as a handle.

Follow the next directions carefully.Follow the next directions carefully.

WARNING!!!… Hot plates are hot!!!WARNING!!!… Hot plates are hot!!!

Each group will bring their item to be Each group will bring their item to be placed on the hotplate. placed on the hotplate.

While the other groups are observing, you While the other groups are observing, you are to answer the following questions in are to answer the following questions in your journal based on what you have your journal based on what you have observed so far during the experiment.observed so far during the experiment.

Journal WritingJournal WritingHow do rocks form?How do rocks form?

How long does it take rocks to form?How long does it take rocks to form?

Where do rocks come from?Where do rocks come from?

Are rocks forming right now?Are rocks forming right now?

Why don’t all rocks look the same?Why don’t all rocks look the same?

The heat from the hot plate represents the The heat from the hot plate represents the great temperatures that are found deep great temperatures that are found deep inside the Earth. inside the Earth.

The melted crayons represent a product of The melted crayons represent a product of melted rock material called…melted rock material called…

magma or lava.magma or lava.

Allow the melted material to cool and Allow the melted material to cool and harden.harden.

Carefully peel off the aluminum foil.Carefully peel off the aluminum foil.

Place the material in Plate 4.Place the material in Plate 4.

The product represents a type of rock that The product represents a type of rock that is called… is called…

Igneous RockIgneous Rock

which means “fire”.which means “fire”.

ExplainExplainPlace your four plates in a circular shape Place your four plates in a circular shape in the order of their numbers.in the order of their numbers.

Draw four circles on your chart paper to Draw four circles on your chart paper to represent the plates.represent the plates.

In each circle draw, color and label In each circle draw, color and label the products that are on the plate the products that are on the plate

located at that position.located at that position.SedimentsSediments

Sedimentary RockSedimentary Rock

Metamorphic RockMetamorphic Rock

Igneous RockIgneous Rock

Connect the drawing with arrows to show Connect the drawing with arrows to show a continuous recycling of matter.a continuous recycling of matter.

Using the diagram of the Rock Cycle, we Using the diagram of the Rock Cycle, we will label the arrows to show the process will label the arrows to show the process that causes one type of rock to change that causes one type of rock to change into another type of rock.into another type of rock.

Then we will add the other arrows that Then we will add the other arrows that show how rocks may change without show how rocks may change without going through entire cycle. going through entire cycle.

Title your drawing on the chart paper.Title your drawing on the chart paper.

SedimentsSediments

Sedimentary RockSedimentary Rock

Metamorphic RockMetamorphic Rock

Igneous RockIgneous Rock