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A reading lesson on earth science.
 

THE ROCK CYCLE

A science lesson on the rock cycle. Includes printable teaching reading comprehension lesson worksheets.

 

Objectives:

  • Students will investigate the rock cycle as an example of geophysical and geochemical cycles that occur on earth.  Old rocks at the earth's surface weather, forming sediments that are buried, then compacted, heated, and often recrystallized into new rock. Eventually, those new rocks may be brought to the surface by the forces that drive plate motions, and the rock cycle continues.
  • Students will learn that changes occur on earth over many millions of years.
  • Students will learn that rocks are categorized by how they are formed and that living organisms play many roles in the earth system, producing some types of rocks.
  • Students will practice classifying different types of rocks.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade - 5th Grade - 6th Grade

 



 
 
 

 

ROCK CYCLE LESSON

 

Directions:

Print the Rock Cycle reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

 

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions.  Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

 

Lesson Excerpt

     What are rocks?  Rocks are solid, natural elements made of minerals and other materials.  Rocks can be as small as a pebble or as large as a canyon wall.  Some rocks are smooth, while others are very rough.

     Thick layers of rock make up the earth.  Scientists group rocks by how they form.  The three main types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

     Igneous rock forms in the mantle below earth's surface.  Heat beneath the surface melts rock.  The melted rock then mixes with hot gases to form magma.  Magma changes into igneous rock when it cools.  Igneous rocks that form below earth's crust are called intrusive rocks.  Igneous rocks that form outside on earth's surface are called extrusive rocks.  Intrusive rocks form when hot magma fills cracks in earth's crust.  Mineral crystals form as the magma cools.  Diamonds and quartz are some minerals that form in intrusive rock.  Rock that forms from quickly cooled lava, such as rhyolite, has small mineral grains.  Rocks that form from slowly cooled magma, such as granite, have large mineral grains.

Continued...

 

LESSON PRINTABLES

The Rock Cycle Lesson and Worksheet

Print this science worksheet for this lesson.

 Includes reading passage, questions, and answer sheet.

 

 

 

 

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