How Rocks Form and Change

Show students how rocks keep changing with this one-page worksheet on geologic processes! Students read three short cards, put the steps of sandstone formation in order, and decide what kind of rock forms in two events.

The page opens by explaining that rocks change from one type to another through slow geologic processes. Three picture cards explain each process. In melting and cooling, rock deep underground melts into magma, and when magma or lava cools and hardens, it becomes igneous rock. In weathering and erosion, wind, water, and ice break rock into pieces and carry them away, and the pieces can become sedimentary rock. In heat and pressure, rock that is buried deep is squeezed and its minerals change without melting, so it becomes metamorphic rock. A closing line reminds students that any rock can go through any of these processes over millions of years. In the first activity, students number five steps from 1 to 5 to show how sandstone forms, from rain breaking a mountain rock to minerals gluing the grains together. In the second activity, students read two events and circle the type of rock that forms. The sheet is written to Texas TEKS 6.10C and also fits NGSS MS-ESS2-1.

What's inside:

• Three process cards with simple doodles
• 5 steps to put in order
• 2 "what kind of rock forms?" questions
• A visual answer key

How teachers use it:

• After the Three Types of Rock worksheet
• For bell work, stations, or an exit ticket
• As homework or sub plans, with no prep needed

It takes about 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. This worksheet is part of our Reading in Science series on Earth's systems.