The Rock Cycle

Objective:

To demonstrate the differentstages of the rock cycle, andto see how one type of rockcan transform into another type of rock.

Part 1: WEATHERINGWeathering:

The process of breaking down rocksTwo Types:

Physical:

Chemical:

Breakdown of rock into smallerpieces by mechanical methodssuch as wind, water or ice.

The decomposition of rock by the chemical breakdown of minerals. Examples includewhen a rock is dissolved by water or whenoxygen reacts with iron to form rust.

Page 28 of IANROCK CYCLE

Activity Part 1:

1. Using the pencil sharpener in your tray, shave the crayons your teacher has left for your group (1 for each person) into shavings. 2. Put the fragments by color into separate piles on wax paper. You are “weathering” rock materials.3. Save for part 2. Process on the left side page (picture, illustration or some other method) of your interactive notebook and answer discussion quest.

Part 2: EROSION AND DEPOSITIONErosion:

Material is transported by:

Sediment:

Deposition:

Stratification:

The movement of weathered materials

Wind, water or ice

Loose material (rock pieces).

When loose materials accumulate.

When different types of sediment cover each other andlayer.

ROCK CYCLE Pg 30 of IAN

Activity Part 2:1. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on your work

area.2. In the center of the foil, each student in

the group drops his or her “rock fragments”, one at a time, piling them on top of each other.

3. Carefully fold the foil over the fragments and save for part 3. Put it in your baggie4. Process on the left side page of your IAN and answer the discussion questions.

Part 3: LITHIFICATION ANDSEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Lithification- Two parts:

Compaction:Reduces the size and number ofspaces between fragments.

Cementation:“glues” the fragments together.Minerals dissolved in water will crystallize and act as the “glue” when water evaporatesSedimentary rocks: Rocks are weathered into

sediments, sediments are deposited, layered,compacted by pressure and cemented by minerals.

ROCK CYCLE Pg. 32 of IAN

Activity Part 3:

1. Put the foil packet between two pieces of plywood.2. Have the smallest person briefly step on the board. 3. After removing the package from between the boards, carefully open the foil and examine the “sedimentary rock”. 4. Remove a small piece from the sedimentary rock. Put the small piece in a baggie. The remainder should be left in the foil package and saved for Part 4. 5. On page 31 of your IAN, answer questions and add a diagram representing lithification.

Part 4: METAMORPHISM AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Metamorphic Rocks:

“changed rocks”. Metamorphic rocks wereigneous or sedimentary but changed due togreat heat and/or great pressure. Bakedrock does not melt to liquid but it does change.Minerals rearrange while heated.

Page 34 of IANRock Cycle

Activity Part 4:

1. Place the foil package between two pieces of plywood.2. Have the tallest person stand on top of the board, over the foil.3. Briefly place the foil package on a hot plate at a low temperature (your teacher will monitor this step). Bring the tongs with you to the hot plate to take the foil off when it’s heated.4. Repeat steps 1-3 an additional two times. 5. Once the package is cool enough to handle, open and examine the newly formed “metamorphic” rock. Take a small piece and place it with your previously saved “sedimentary rock” in the bag.6. Save the metamorphic rock in the foil for part 5.

Part 5: IGNEOUS ROCKSIgneous Rocks:

Formed from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava). Can cool insidethe earth (intrusive igneous rock) or on the surface of the earth (extrusive igneous rock)

Rock Cycle Page 36 of IAN

Magma

IgneousRock

Sediment

MetamorphicRock

SedimentaryRock

cool and harden

weathering

erosion,deposition,lithification

heat andpressure

melting

melting

heat and pressure

weathering

weathering

melting

Activity Part 5:

1. Your foil packet has been placed on the hot plate over high heat and melted.2. When your teacher returns your foil package open it and begin the questions on pg. 35 of your IAN. 3. For the “processing” piece on pg. 35 you will start somewhere in the rock cycle and draw pictures showing the “life of a rock” going through the rock cycle.