Name: ___________________________ Date: _________________ Period: ______

CRAYON ROCK CYCLE LAB

NGSSS:
SC.7.E.6.2 Identify the patterns within the rock
cycle and relate them to surface events
(weathering and erosion) and sub-surface events
(plate tectonics and mountain building). AA
SC.7.E.6.6 Identify the impact that humans have
had on Earth, such as deforestation, urbanization,
desertification, erosion, air and water quality,
changing the flow of water. SC.7.E.6.5 Explore
the scientific theory of plate tectonics by
describing how the movement of Earth's crustal
plates causes both slow and rapid changes in
Earth's surface, including volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, and mountain building. AA
LACC.68.RST.3.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in
a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram,
model, graph, or table).

Background:
The rock cycle describes the continuous processes that break down and form the three
main rocks- igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed by the
cooling and hardening of magma. Sedimentary rock is formed through weathering and
erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation of rock fragments. Metamorphic rock
is formed by great heat and pressure on a rock that causes it to change form into a
metamorphic rock.

Problem Statement: How can crayons be used to model the rock cycle?

Vocabulary: heat, temperature, kinetic energy, density, model, rock cycle, igneous
rock, sedimentary rock, metamorphic rock, solid, liquid, lithosphere, heat, crust, mantle,
inner core, outer core, oceanic crust, continental crust, convection,

Materials: 1 penny per student, 2 crayons per student, 2 paper plates per group, 1
Styrofoam cup per group, 2 large sheets of tin foil per group, 1 large/heavy textbook,
Newspaper to cover work area, Boiling hot water

Procedures:

1. Collect all materials

2. Using the penny, shave the crayon down into small
pieces onto the paper plate. All shaving of crayons
 should be finished in 5 minutes max (make sure to peel the paper off the
crayons).
3. Stop and reflect in your group about what process in the rock cycle is being
completed.

4. Transfer the sediment onto the sheet of tin foil so that the entire pile is at the
center of the foil (at this point as much sediment as possible from all group
members, should be on the foil).
5. Fold the piece of foil on top of the pile and place the text book on top. Gently
push twice on the text book. Unfold the foil and look at the rock. What type of
rock has now been created? What process occurred? What characteristics do
you notice about the rock?
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6. Bring water to boiling on a hot plate and pour some into the cups. Place the rock
back inside the folded tin foil and hold it above the boiling water for about 15
seconds, and then to push the textbook on top again, but harder this time.
7. Unfold the foil and look at the rock. Now what type of rock has been
created? What process did it undergo in order to be changed? What
characteristics do you notice about the
rock? ___________________________________________________________
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8. Shape the second piece of foil (a new one) into a sort of boat such that there is a
space in the middle for the rock and the foil is high on the
sides. Place your rock in the center of the boat (again as much
sediment as possible). Float your tin foil boat on the boiling water
for about 30 seconds. This is the coolest part because the
crayons completely melt back into wax and all of the colors blend
together. Carefully pull your boat out of the water and let it cool.
9. Then, pop your rock out of the foil. What type of rock has now
been created. What process occurred? What characteristics do you notice about
the
rock? ___________________________________________________________
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Observations/ Data:
Process of the lab activity Process of the rock cycle
Shaving down of crayons
Transferring of the sediment onto the
sheet of tin foil
Pushing on the pile of crayon with the textbook
Holding the rock in the tin foil above the
boiling water and then pressing the
textbook on the rock after
Floating the tin foil boat on the boiling
water for about 30 seconds with the rock in
the center of the boat
Cooling of the melted crayons

Results/ Conclusions:
1. What type of rock does each of the processes of the rock cycle
form?__________________
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