The Rock Cycle

Lesson Plan: The Rock Cycle

Grade Level: Elementary

Subject: Earth Science
Duration: 1 hour or less
Supplemental Resources: Instructional Video (Field Guide), Online Escape Room (Rock Cycle Rescue: The Time Traveler’s Quest)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
2. Explain the rock cycle and how rocks change from one type to another through processes like heat, pressure, erosion, and sedimentation.
3. Recognize key processes such as erosion, weathering, and metamorphism in the rock cycle.

Materials:

• Field Guide Video (for instruction)
• Online Escape Room (for engagement and assessment)

Vocabulary:

1. Igneous – Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
2. Sedimentation – The process of particles settling and accumulating to form sedimentary rock.
3. Metamorphic – Rocks transformed by heat and pressure deep within the Earth.
4. Erosion – The process of rocks breaking down by wind or water and being transported.
5. Magma – Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Briefly introduce the topic of the rock cycle.
• Discuss how rocks change over time through natural processes and transform into different types.
• Provide a short overview of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

2. Instructional Video (Field Guide) (10 minutes)

• Play the Field Guide video, which provides detailed explanations about the rock cycle, focusing on:
  • Formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
  • Key processes such as weathering, sedimentation, and heat/pressure transformation.
• Encourage students to pay close attention, as they’ll use this information in the online escape room.

3. Interactive Escape Room (Rock Cycle Rescue) (30 minutes)

• Guide students to participate in the Rock Cycle Rescue: The Time Traveler’s Quest online escape room.
  • Molten Core Era: Answer questions about igneous rocks and magma.
  • Sedimentary Valley: Learn about sedimentation and the formation of sedimentary rocks.
  • Metamorphic Mountain: Explore how heat and pressure transform rocks into metamorphic types.
  • Erosion Apocalypse: Understand how erosion breaks down rocks and shapes landscapes.
• Encourage students to use the Field Guide button to re-watch the video if they get stuck.

4. Conclusion & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Discuss with students what they learned and review key concepts of the rock cycle.
• Use the escape room completion as a form of assessment to check their understanding of the material.

Assessment:

• Participation in the online escape room and correct responses to questions within each section serve as the primary assessment tools for this lesson.

Teacher Notes:

• Be sure to emphasize the importance of the Field Guide video as the main instructional tool. Students will refer back to it during the escape room if they need help.
• Encourage group collaboration if time permits for students to solve escape room challenges together.

Teacher Reference Guide

In this lesson on the rock cycle, you'll guide your students through understanding how rocks are formed and transformed over time through natural processes. Here’s the essential information you'll need to convey to your students for each stage of the lesson. This guide will help you ensure that students grasp the key concepts of the rock cycle as they prepare for the online escape room and the assessments within it.

Introduction: The Rock Cycle Overview

Begin by introducing the concept of the rock cycle. Explain that the rock cycle is a natural process in which rocks are constantly changing forms through various forces on Earth. The three main types of rocks involved in the cycle are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

• Igneous Rocks: These are formed when molten rock (magma) from beneath the Earth's surface cools and solidifies. If it cools below the surface, it forms intrusive igneous rocks like granite. If it erupts as lava and cools above the surface, it forms extrusive igneous rocks like basalt.

• Sedimentary Rocks: These form when sediments, small particles of rock or organic material, are carried by wind or water and settle in layers. Over time, the layers compact and cement together to form sedimentary rocks like limestone and sandstone. This process often happens in places like riverbeds, lakes, or oceans.

• Metamorphic Rocks: When existing rocks (whether igneous, sedimentary, or older metamorphic rocks) are subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth, they change into new rocks. This transformation creates metamorphic rocks like marble (from limestone) and slate (from shale).

Explain to students that these rock types are not static—they are constantly being transformed through processes like melting, cooling, compaction, heat, pressure, weathering, and erosion. Emphasize that this process is ongoing and can take millions of years.

Field Guide Video: Instructional Segment

Once you’ve given the basic overview, introduce the Field Guide video. Let students know that the video will explain the rock cycle in greater detail, covering how each rock type forms and the processes involved. Encourage them to pay attention as the information in the video will help them successfully complete the escape room challenges.

• Magma to Igneous: Molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies to form igneous rocks.
• Sediments to Sedimentary Rocks: Sediments accumulate, compact, and cement over time to form sedimentary rocks.
• Heat and Pressure to Metamorphic Rocks: Rocks are altered by heat and pressure deep within the Earth, creating metamorphic rocks.

Remind students that they will be using this information in the online escape room, and they can always reference the Field Guide button on each escape room page to re-watch the video if needed.

Online Escape Room: Rock Cycle Rescue

In the Rock Cycle Rescue: The Time Traveler’s Quest escape room, students will encounter four different settings, each representing a key part of the rock cycle:

1. Molten Core Era – Here, students will explore how igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of molten magma. They’ll learn about both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.

2. Sedimentary Valley – In this section, students will discover how layers of sediments accumulate over time and form sedimentary rocks. They will see how this process works in natural settings like riverbeds and oceans.

3. Metamorphic Mountain – Students will explore how existing rocks undergo transformation due to heat and pressure deep within the Earth, becoming metamorphic rocks. They’ll encounter examples like marble and slate.

4. Erosion Apocalypse – Finally, students will learn about erosion and how natural forces like wind and water break down rocks, shaping the landscape and contributing to the rock cycle. They will see how weathering and erosion play key roles in rock formation and recycling.

Encourage students to use the Field Guide button if they get stuck on any questions. Each setting in the escape room contains questions that test their understanding of the rock cycle.

Conclusion and Assessment

Once students complete the escape room, review what they’ve learned about the rock cycle. Ask them to recall how each type of rock is formed and the processes involved in the transformation of rocks. You can reinforce key vocabulary like magma, sedimentation, metamorphism, and erosion.

Assessment for this lesson will be based on the completion and accuracy of their responses in the escape room.

Teacher Reference Guide: Answer Sheet

Here’s a list of the questions we used, along with their correct answers for the teacher's quick reference:

Molten Core Era - Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What type of rock is formed when molten magma cools and solidifies?

   • C) Igneous

2. Where is magma found before it reaches the Earth’s surface?

   • B) In the Earth's mantle

3. What causes magma to rise to the Earth’s surface and form a volcano?

   • A) Pressure from tectonic plates

Sedimentary Valley - True or False Questions:

1. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation and compaction of sediments over time.

   • True

2. Sedimentary rocks are always found deep beneath the Earth's surface and never on the surface.

   • False

3. Fossils are often found in sedimentary rocks because they form in layers over long periods of time.

   • True

Metamorphic Mountain - Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What process primarily transforms rocks into metamorphic rocks?

   • A) Heat and pressure

2. Which of the following is an example of a metamorphic rock?

   • A) Marble

3. Metamorphic rocks are most commonly found:

   • A) Deep below Earth's surface

Erosion Apocalypse - Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What natural force is most responsible for erosion?

   • A) Wind and water

2. Erosion typically causes rocks to:

   • A) Break down into smaller pieces

3. Which of the following landforms is most affected by erosion?

   • A) Riverbanks