The Rock Cycle

What You'll Learn

Erosion moves weathered rock and soil from one place to another by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Rivers carve valleys, wind shapes sand dunes, and glaciers grind mountains.

Key Words

fossil
mineral
igneous

Materials Needed

cotton balls
food coloring
clear container
rocks
sand
clay

Safety First

Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
Do not mix unknown chemicals together.
Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the introduction and identify the main idea of this lesson.

Step 2 — Do

Investigate soil layers: fill a jar with soil and water, shake it, and let it settle overnight. Identify the layers of clay, silt, sand, and organic matter.

Step 3 — Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 — Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the rock cycle?