Melanie Giambattista
Lesson 7a – Rock Cycle
Table of Contents
1. Teacher Notes
2. Teacher Notes
3. Rock Cycle Fudge
4. Rock Cycle (assignment)
Teacher Notes:
This is the glossary of terms from the interactive website
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/types.html
Basalt
A type of igneous rock. Basalt is the most common rock type in the earth's crust and makes up most of
the ocean floor.
Compacting and Cementing
A process that turns sediment into sedimentary rock. Over time, sediment accumulates in oceans, lakes,
and valleys, eventually building up in layers and weighing down the material underneath. This weight
presses the sediment particles together, compacting them. Water passing through the spaces in
between the particles helps to cement them together even more.
Conglomerate
A type of sedimentary rock made up of pebbles, stones, and smaller particles pressed together by the
action of waves or water. Conglomerate is often found in large expanses or beds. Finding a bed of
conglomerate is a great clue that a river or beach once existed in that location.
Cooling
The process that hardens magma and turns it into igneous rock. The cooling of magma can occur either
underneath or on the earth's surface.
Erosion
The process by which soil, sediment, and small pieces of rock are carried away from their original
locations and transferred elsewhere by the actions of wind, water, ice, or living organisms.
Fossils
Imprints of leaves, shells, insects, or other items left in rock.
Gneiss
A type of metamorphic rock that usually has ribbonlike layers. Gneiss (pronounced "nice") can often be
seen on mountainsides, where rocks formed below the surface have been pushed up by movements in
the earth's crust.
Heat and Pressure
The process that occurs under the earth's surface and turns any kind of rock into metamorphic rock.
Igneous Rock
One of the three main rock types, formed from the cooling and hardening of magma. Sometimes the
magma cools deep within the earth, and other times it erupts onto the earth's surface from volcanoes
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(in this case, it is called lava).
Limestone
A type of sedimentary rock often found near oceans and lakes.
Magma
Hot, molten rock found deep inside the earth.
Magma
Molten rock that flows beneath the earth's surface and is made up of gases, liquids, and crystals. When
magma reaches the surface, it is called lava.
Marble
A type of metamorphic rock formed when limestone is pushed down into the earth and subjected to
intense heat and pressure for a long period of time.
Melting
The process that turns any rock into magma. Melting a rock requires extremely high temperatures,
which only occur far beneath the earth's surface.
Metamorphic Rock
One of the three main rock types, formed deep within the earth, where rock material is subjected to
intense heat and pressure (squeezing). The rocks that result from these processes often have ribbonlike
layers and may have shiny crystals on their surface, formed by minerals growing slowly over time.
Metamorphosis
From the Greek "to transform," metamorphosis is the change that occurs when rocks under the earth's
surface are subjected to intense heat and pressure, turning them into metamorphic rocks.
Obsidian
A type of extrusive igneous rock, created from lava that cools so quickly that no crystals can form on its
surface. It can be found near volcanic lava flows.
The Rock Cycle
The recurring series of events that rocks undergo, over time, that transforms them from one type to
another.
Sediment
Loose pieces of minerals and rocks.
Sedimentary Rock
One of the three main rock types, formed from particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of
material. Together, all these particles are called sediment. Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers
and over a long period of time hardens into rock. Generally, sedimentary rock is fairly soft and may
break apart or crumble easily. You can often see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is usually the
only type that contains fossils.
Volcano
An opening in the earth's surface that allows hot magma, ash, and gases to escape from deep below the
surface. When magma reaches the surface through a volcano, it is called lava. When lava cools, it forms
extrusive igneous rock.
Weathering
The process by which rocks are worn down by wind and water, creating sediment.
Trench
A deep valley that forms at the edge of a continent when an oceanic plate sinks underneath a
continental plate.
Melanie Giambattista
Rock Cycle Fudge – By Shannon Watson
www.lessonplanspage.com
Teacher's Guide
Each set of two lab stations below should be equipped with a microwave, a large, microwavesafe bowl, a large spoon, a set of measuring cups and measuring spoons. A station should be set
up with the ingredients accessible to students and labelled as the various "sediments." Each
group should have a can with the roles on individual slips to be drawn. Read the scenario with
the students and let them draw roles.
(See students' sheet, below)
Review with the students that this was a simulation of the rock cycle and that the actual cycle
takes millions of years, incredible temperatures, and very high pressure. Have each group clean
their areas for the next class, and arrange a time when the students can return to eat their
"igneous rocks," perhaps having a "rock party" after the quiz over the rock cycle.
Enjoy!
ROCK CYCLE FUDGE (Student hand-out)
We begin our journey through the rock cycle with sediments that have been weathered into
small pieces. These sediments will come together to form sedimentary, then metamorphic rock.
They will melt into magma, and finally end up as igneous rock. YOU are to play the part of the
forces involved in creating and destroying rocks in the endless rock cycle. (Draw your "role"
from the can.)
Materials: One bowl, one spoon, wax paper, measuring cups and spoons, and the following
"sediments:"
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




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1/3 cup silt (Erosion) Evaporated Milk
1 cup quartz crystals (Uplifting) Sugar
1 Tablespoon organic sediments (Time) Margarine
1 cup limestone pieces (Ocean) Mini-marshmallows
¼ cup sandstone pieces (Weathering) Smarties (instead of nusts)
¾ cup basalt pieces (Heat) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
½ teaspoon crude oil (Pressure) Vanilla extract
1. "Erosion", "Uplifting," and "Time" will measure and add the silt, quartz crystals, and organic
sediments to the bowl.
Melanie Giambattista
2. "Plate Tectonics" will mix them thoroughly with the spoon.
3. "Heat" will place bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds, then "Pressure" will stir it. Do this 3
times! (Pick up materials for the next step while this is going on.)
4. While step 3 is being done, "Weathering" will break the sandstone pieces into smaller pieces.
Smarties will be "broken down," simulating weathering.
5. "Ocean," "Weathering," "Heat," and "Pressure" will measure and add the limestone,
sandstone, basalt, and crude oil to the bowl.
6. "Time" and "Ocean" will take turns stirring the sediments as they undergo metamorphosis,
finally melting the limestone and basalt back into magma. Discuss the natural processes that
are being simulated.
7. "Erosion" will hold the bowl as "Plate Tectonics" uses the spoon to scrape the magma back
out onto the Earth's surface (wax paper).
8. "Crust" will add another sheet of the Earth's surface (wax paper) over the top of the cooling
igneous rocks after labelling it with student names and class period.
9. "Crust" and "Plate Tectonics" will carry the sheet of igneous rocks to a cooling area
(refrigerator).
The Rock Cycle
 In your lab groups, create a visual representation of the rock cycle
 Include the following components:
 3 types of rock (metamorphic, igneous, sedimentary)
 Heat and pressure
 Melting
 Compacting and cementing
 Weathering and erosion
 Cooling
 Magma
 Sediment
*note: Think back to the interactive website, look in textbooks if you need
assistance, you will likely need to use some of the components more than once.
Good Luck!