Summary
Everything changes after enough time, even if it’s set in stone! The rock cycle describes how conditions on Earth and inside it transform rock over time. Igneous rock forms from magma or lava, rock that’s been liquefied deep within the planet. Once it’s hardened, weathering and erosion may break it down and move pieces around. Those pieces, called sediments, can build up and fuse into sedimentary rock. Or, rock can travel into the depths of the planet, where intense heat and pressure transform it into metamorphic rock. These changes are taking place all around us—very, very slowly. Press “play” to see what happens to rock over millions and billions of years!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Rock Cycle:
- What is one new thing you learned about rock cycle?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining rock cycle.
- Draw or give one example of your own.