Rock Cycle Lab printable pdf download

Name________________________________________Period__________Date____________________

Rock Cycle Crayon Lab

Purpose: To observe the rock cycle through a series of simulation activities. You will use crayons as “rock material” to

demonstrate how the rock cycle works.

Useful Terms to Use in Answers: Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Igneous, Compaction,

Pressure, Melting, Cooling

Materials: 2 (or more) crayons of different colors per group, penny or pencil sharpener, paper towel, aluminum foil,

aluminum pie tin, 3 cups (one with ice water, one with warm water, and one empty), ice, tea candles, OLD text

books.

Part 1:

In nature rocks are broken down by the forces of nature.

1. Use the pencil sharpener to make “sediment” crayon shavings onto the paper towel.



You need a pile of “sediments” from different colors of crayons that is approximately 4cm x 4cm and 1-2 cm

thick.



Describe AND Draw the crayon after weathering:

Drawing

Description (size, color, volume, etc.)

a. What do the different colors of crayon represent? ____________________________________________

b. What does this process represent? _________________________________________________________

c. In nature, what does weathering do? _______________________________________________________

d. What was the weathering “tool” used in this lab? _____________________________________________

e. What are tools that nature uses to erode rocks? Name at least three.

____________________

When rock fragments have been created in nature, they are usually moved and dropped off by some force of

nature like gravity, wind, and water.

2. Place most of your “sediment” (or “weathered crayon”) onto a piece of aluminum foil in a neat pile. Leave half of

the shavings on the paper towel to be used in Part 3.



Describe AND Draw the weathered crayon:

Drawing

Description

Rock Cycle Lab