The Rock Cycle Worksheet Template (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

All rock can be heated. But where does the heat come from? Inside Earth there is heat from

pressure (push your hands together very hard and feel the heat). There is heat from friction (rub

your hands together and feel the heat). There is also heat from radioactive decay (the process

that gives us nuclear power plants that make electricity).

So, what does the heat do to the rock? It bakes the rock.

Baked rock does not melt, but it does change. It forms crystals. If it has crystals already, it forms

larger crystals. Because this rock changes, it is called metamorphic. Remember that a caterpillar

changes to become a butterfly. That change is called metamorphosis. Metamorphosis can occur

in rock when they are heated to 300 to 700 degrees Celsius.

When Earth's tectonic plates move around, they produce heat. When they collide, they build

mountains and metamorphose (met-ah-MORE-foes) the rock.

The rock cycle continues. Mountains made of metamorphic rocks can be broken up and washed

away by streams. New sediments from these mountains can make new sedimentary rock.

The rock cycle never stops.

INDEPENDENTLY

PART I

USING COMPLETE SENTENCES, answer the questions below.

1. In paragraph #4, what does the word “sediments” mean?

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2. In paragraph #4, what do you think the word “cemented” means?

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3. Explain how sedimentary rocks are formed: _________________________________________________

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4. Which type of rock changes? ______________________________________________________________

5. ___________________________ rock forms when magma (lava) cools off and forms crystals.

6. Where are 3 places that this passage says heat comes from in paragraph #5? _____________________

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The Rock Cycle Worksheet Template Page 2