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How are rocks made? Why are some rocks hard and others soft? How do rocks shine? How are geodes and crystals made? Why do some rocks have gems in them? Answers to your rock questions with Hendratta Ali, rock doctor! Ali is a geologist who studies and teaches at Fort Hays State University in Kansas.

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

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‎But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: How Are Rocks Formed? on Apple Podcasts

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How are rocks made? Why are some rocks hard and others soft? How do rocks shine? How are geodes and crystals made? Why do some rocks have gems in them? Answers to your rock questions with Hendratta Ali, rock doctor! Ali is a geologist who studies and teaches at Fort Hays State University in Kansas....

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children kids podcast ios apps education science discovery sharing

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Kids Listen: Rocks and Minerals and Being Afraid

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From Science is Fun E. Ella asks what is the difference between a rock and a mineral. And Private asks about being afraid of things

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In this series of games, your students will learn to construct an explanation of how to classify rocks by their formation and how rocks change through geologic processes in the rock cycle. The Rock Cycle learning objective - based on NGSS and state standards - delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research .

Scroll down for a preview of this learning objective's games and the concepts.

Concepts Covered

Geologic processes, such as the rock and water cycles, involve the cycling of energy and matter from one form to another. Geologic processes can occur on a microscopic to global-level scale. Different geologic processes occur at different rates of time, from the scale of fractions of a second to billions of years. The processes of the rock cycle involve uplift, weathering, erosion, deposition, melting, crystallization, and metamorphism. The rock cycle is dependent upon the flow of energy from Earth's interior.

A preview of each game in the learning objective is found below.

You can access all of the games on Legends of Learning for free, forever, with a teacher account. A free teacher account also allows you to create playlists of games and assignments for students and track class progress. Sign up for free today!

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The Rock Cycle Games | Legends of Learning

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Curriculum games for Information Technologies and Instrumentation, based on NGSS & state standards. Learn about how we use technology to send information.

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A grade 5 level, 7-8 lesson Earth Science unit package focused on the rock cycle and how materials from the earth are used as resources to build homes, roads and other things in our communities....

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The rock cycle - a continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again. A process taught in all Earth Science curricula, usually in the middle school or early high school years. And earth science is a fun science that can be super interactive!

The Rock Cycle

"Solid as a rock."

Have you heard that expression?

Rocks have a reputation for being solid, hard, and indestructible. But rocks are always changing! Existing rocks undergo change as outlined in the rock cycle (which is similar to the water cycle).

The difference is that, unlike the water cycle, you can't see the rock cycle steps happening on a day-to-day basis. Rocks change very slowly under normal activity, but sometimes catastrophic events like a volcanic eruption or a flood can speed up the process. Rocks line river beds and jut above the landscape as mountain peaks; they are fun to collect and sometimes are very beautiful.

Each rock is different; some are smooth and round, some are sharp and dangerous. They come in all colors: pink, green, orange, white, red. And yet, scientists classify them all in only three groups! Keep reading to learn about the three types of rocks and the rock cycle.

Three Types of Rocks in the Rock Cycle

rocks are formed when hot magma cools rapidly, either by hitting underground air pockets (intrusive igneous rocks) or by flowing from the mouth of a volcano as lava on top of the ground (extrusive igneous rocks). Granite, obsidian, basalt, and pumice are all common examples of igneous rocks. Pumice is a very porous rock because when the lava cooled, pockets of air were trapped inside. Because of all those air pockets, pumice can actually float!

Sedimentary rocks are formed by layers of sediment (dirt, rock particles, etc.) being mixed and compressed together for extended periods of time. Common examples of these rocks are limestone, sandstone, and shale. Sedimentary rocks often have lots of fossils in them because plants and animals get buried in the layers of sediment and turn into stone. Clastic sedimentary rocks are rocks that people generally think of; rocks that have pieces of other, pre-existing rocks that form a new rock.

Metamorphic rocks are a combination of rock types, compressed together by high pressure and high temperatures. They usually have a more hard, grainy texture than the other two types. Schist, slate, and gneiss (pronounced like 'nice') are metamorphic rocks.

The Six Rock Cycle Steps

1. Weathering & Erosion. Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks on the surface of the earth are constantly being broken down by wind and water. Wind carrying sand wears particles off the rock like sandpaper. Rushing river water, crashing surf, and precipitation all rub off the rough edges of rocks, leaving smooth rocks or pebbles behind. Water seeps into the cracks in mountain rocks, then freezes, causing the rocks to break open.

The result of all this? Large rocks are worn down to small particles.

When the particles are broken off a rock and stay in the same area, it is called weathering.

When the particles are carried somewhere else, it is called erosion.

2. Transportation. Eroded rock particles are carried away by wind or by rain, streams, rivers, and oceans.

3. Deposition. As rivers get deeper or flow into the ocean, their current slows down, and the rock particles (mixed with soil) sink and become a layer of sediment. Often the sediment builds up faster than it can be washed away, creating little islands and forcing the river to break up into many channels in a delta.

4. Compaction & Cementation. As the layers of sediment stack up (above water or below), the weight and pressure compacts the bottom layers.

(Try making a stack of catalogs and watch how the bottom one gets squished as you add more on top - this is the same idea as the compaction of layers of sediment.)

Dissolved minerals fill in the small gaps between particles and then solidify, acting as cement. After years of compaction and cementation, the sediment turns into sedimentary rock.

5. Metamorphism. Over very long periods of geologic time, sedimentary or igneous rocks end up buried deep underground, usually because of the movement of plate tectonics. While underground, these rocks are exposed to high heat and pressure, which changes them into metamorphic rock. This tends to happen where tectonic plates come together: the pressure of the plates squish the rock that is heated from hot magma below.

(Tectonic plates are large sections of the earth's crust that move separately from each other. Their movement often results in earthquakes.)

6. Rock Melting. Can you imagine 'rock hard' rocks melting? That's what they do in the depths of the earth! Metamorphic rocks underground melt to become magma. When a volcano erupts, magma flows out of it. (When magma is on the earth's surface, it is called lava.) As the lava cools it hardens and becomes igneous rock. As soon as the new igneous rock is formed, the processes of weathering and erosion begin, starting the whole cycle over again!

See if you can find sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks where you live. As you study them, think about how they have undergone many slow changes to become what they are.

Draw a picture of the rocks you find and then draw a diagram of the rock cycle steps. Keep reading to see how you can experience the rock cycle process for yourself!

Gemstones

Wind and water and blowing sand can, over time, rub away the rough edges of rocks, leaving smooth stones. In nature, this is called 'weathering.'

But weathering can happen at home, too! Many people use a rock tumbler to shape and polish the rocks they collect. (You can get a bag of rocks to tumble here, too, if you don't have your own!)

A rock tumbler mixes the stones with several types of grit to rub away the roughness, just like rocks 'tumbled' with sand in an ocean or river.

The results are smooth, shiny rocks. When people tumble gemstones (usually semi-precious ones they find), they can end up with beautiful colors and can even use polished stones to make their own jewelry.

A gem or a gemstone is any mineral that can be cut and polished for jewelry or other decoration. The most precious gems are chosen for their beauty, rarity, and durability. Semi-precious gems usually have one or two of these characteristics but fall short in some other areas.

Fluorite, for instance, is very beautiful but it is too soft and will scratch easily. Agate, quartz, and amethyst are other examples of semi-precious gems.

Diamonds are gemstones that are considered very precious and for good reason. Though they are made of carbon, one of the most common elements, diamonds are generally regarded as some of the most beautiful gemstones.

They are relatively rare because most diamonds are not jewelry quality. Diamond mines usually have 1 part diamond to 40 million parts other rock.

But a diamond high-quality enough to be in an engagement ring is the product of the removal and processing of 200 to 400 million times its volume of rock!

The diamond's most incredible attribute, however, is its durability. It is the hardest substance found in nature, four times harder than the next hardest natural substance, corundum (sapphire and ruby).

The grit in a regular rock tumbler wouldn't have much effect on a diamond! It also has the highest melting point and conducts heat five times better than the second-best element, silver.

Starburst Rock Cycle Science Project

Have you ever made a rock collection? Part of the fun is gathering as many different rocks as you can find. But even though rocks come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes, they all fit into one of three categories based on how they were formed. Learn about the rock cycle steps, the three main types of rocks, and what happens when rocks get so hot that they melt!

What You Need:

Starburst candy (assorted colors)

Adult's help

Scissors

Heat source (like a toaster oven, hot plate, blow dryer, etc.)

Tongs

Wax paper cut into a 6-8" square

Aluminum foil cut into an 8-10" square, or a weighing boat

Rock cycle chart

What You Do:

What Happened:

We classify the three main types of rock (sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous) based on how they're formed. The rock cycle is the entire process of forming rocks, and like a circle, it has no beginning or end.

In this rock cycle project, we simulated the formation of sedimentary rocks by pressing the pieces of Starburst into a lump. We simulated the formation of metamorphic rocks by adding heat and pressure in steps 4 and 5.

The final three steps of the project show how igneous rocks are formed. Since the rock cycle steps are continuous, do you think you could use your igneous "rock" from the final steps and start the whole project over? Give it a try!

For more fun studying and experimenting with geology, check out these science projects:

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Rock Cycle Steps & Science Project | HST Earth Science K-6

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Let HST teach you the 3 types of rock, the rock cycle steps, how gemstones are made, plus a fun earth science project for K-6! Learn more now!

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What Are Rocks?

Rocks are made up of two or more minerals. Rocks containing valuable minerals are called ore.

How do people classify rocks?

Rocks are often classified according to how they are formed.

Igneous Rock

Igneous rocks are rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of magmamagma .

Did you know?

The word igneous comes from the Latin word "ignis" meaning fire.

Sedimentary Rock

Did you know?

Fossils are only found in sedimentary rock!

Examples of sedimentary rocks include limestone, shale, sandstone and conglomerate.

Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rocks are formed due to physical or chemical change to an existing rock. We call this process metamorphosis. Metamorphosis means a change in form. You may have heard this word used for the life cycle process that butterflies undergo when they change from larvae to adults.

Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks can become metamorphic rocks by being exposed to extreme heat and pressure, such as deep underground.

Examples of metamorphic rocks include marble, slate and gneiss.

How do people use rocks?

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Rocks are made up of two or more minerals . Rocks containing valuable minerals are called ore. How do people classify rocks? Rocks are often classified according to how they are formed. Igneous rocks are rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of magmamagma . Did you know?

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Length: 35 minutes. The Earth rocks, in more way than one! Join Museum of the Rockies Paleontology Collections Manager - Registrar Amy Atwater to learn all about the rock cycle and the three basic rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Teaching Resources

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Teaching Resources

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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Search more than 350 science teaching resources for grades K to 12. The resources align with core ideas and crosscutting concepts in standards.

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Educational Resources Educational Resources When we give kids opportunities to discover, it spurs the desire to know more. That love of education can

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The rock cycle (video) | The geosphere | Khan Academy

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Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

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Although rocks may initially seem like solid, unchanging substances, they are actually made up of minerals that change forms and get recycled through many different stages. This engaging book explores the rock cycle with diagrams and detailed photographs illustrating the movement of rocks through their various states, including magma-formed igneous rock, metamorphic rock such as marble, and layered sedimentary rocks that build up over time. Also covered are the scientific processes that cause rocks to change forms and the ways in which humans have benefitted from rock's surprising and constant transformations.

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Although rocks may initially seem like solid, unchanging substances, they are actually made up of minerals that change forms and get recycled through many different stages. This engaging book explores the rock cycle with diagrams and detailed phot...

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Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.

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-The rock cycle
-Local types of earth materials

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How do we interact with water, rocks, minerals, soils, and plants?

How do rocks change from one type to another?

How can the layers in rocks be used in fossil dating?

How can Earth be considered a closed material system?

How can we act as stewards of our environment?

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Building Student Success - B.C. Curriculum

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Ways of knowing refers to the various beliefs about the nature of knowledge that people have; they can include, but are not limited to, Aboriginal, gender-related, subject/discipline specific, cultural, embodied and intuitive beliefs about knowledge. What are the connections between ways of knowing and place?

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First Peoples Principles of Learning Connections

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First Peoples Principles of Learning Connections

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Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experimental, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place)

Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story

Learning involves patience and time

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This poster, The First Peoples Principles of Learning describes a set of learning principles specific to First Peoples. These were articulated by Indigenous Elders, scholars and knowledge keepers to guide the development of the curriculum and teaching of the the English First Peoples course created by the BC Ministry of Education and First Nations Education Steering Committee in 2006/2007.

The Principles are as follows:

Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.

Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).

Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one's actions.

Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities.

Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge.

Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.

Learning involves patience and time.

Learning requires exploration of one's identity.

Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations.

They represent an attempt to identify common elements in the varied teaching and learning approaches that prevail within particular First Nations societies. It must be recognized that they do not capture the full reality of the approach used in any single First Peoples' society.

We welcome your feedback on our resources.

To order this publication, please visit our publications form. Quantities are limited.

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This poster, The First Peoples Principles of Learning describes a set of learning principles specific to First Peoples. These were articulated by Indigenous Elders, scholars and knowledge keepers to guide the development of the curriculum and teaching of the the English First Peoples course created by the BC Ministry of Education and First Nations Education Steering Committee in 2006/2007.