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The Rock Cycle

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Matter & Materials|Ages 12—14|ID: mt_NckKLZ3uCE

Explain the rock cycle: how igneous rocks form from magma, sedimentary rocks from compressed sediment, and metamorphic rocks from heat and pressure, and how all rock types can transform into one another over geological time

Mastery Evidence

  • Describes how each rock type (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) is formed
  • Gives an example of each rock type and its formation (e.g. granite, limestone, marble)
  • Traces a rock sample through possible transitions in the rock cycle
  • Explains what geological time means and why rock cycle changes are slow

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] picked up a piece of marble on a school trip, could they explain how it was originally limestone, what changed it into marble, and how long that process took?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

MS-ESS2-1Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle Schoolcodes only
Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.
KS3.Sci.Chem.EA.4The national curriculum in England
The Rock Cycle

the formation of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rock (the rock cycle)

Science · KS3

Prerequisites3

Show full prerequisite tree
  • How Tectonic Plates Move soft

    KS3 rock cycle (igneous/sedimentary/metamorphic) provides material science context for plate boundary processes

    • Seismic Waves & Earth's Interior hard

      Plate tectonics framework is prerequisite for understanding why seismic waves reveal Earth structure at boundaries

    • Famous Eruptions & Pangaea hard

      Advanced plate tectonics depends on famous eruptions and Pangaea context

      • Plate Boundaries hard

        Understanding global effects requires knowing plate tectonics mechanism

        • Why Earthquakes Happen hard

          Plate boundaries as earthquake cause builds on simpler causal model

        • Tectonic Plates hard

          Plate boundary mechanisms require knowing what tectonic plates are

          • Ring of Fire hard

            Plate concept explains the patterns of where earthquakes/volcanoes occur

          • Finding patterns in data soft

            Tectonic plates concept benefits from prior map-reading of Earth's features

            • Rock layers and Earth's history soft

              Interpreting maps of Earth surface features is enriched by understanding cross-section views of geological strata and layers

              • 3-D shapes (age 9+) soft

                Interpreting cross-section diagrams of Earth builds on the skill of identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations

                • 2-D shapes (age 7+) hard

                  Y3 drawing 2D and making 3D shapes is prerequisite to identifying 3D from 2D representations

                  • Edges, vertices, and faces hard

                    Making/describing 3-D shapes requires knowing their properties (edges, vertices, faces)

                    • 3-D shapes hard

                      Describing 3-D properties (edges, vertices, faces) requires knowing the shapes first

                    • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                      Counting edges, vertices, and faces is reinforced by analysing nets where each face is visible as a separate 2-D shape

                    • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                      Formal property description extends informal analysis of shapes

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                      • 3-D shapes hard

                        Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                  • 2-D shapes (age 6+) hard

                    Drawing 2-D shapes requires knowing their properties

                    • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

                      Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

                      • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                        Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

                    • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                      Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                      • 3-D shapes hard

                        Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                  • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                    Drawing 2-D shapes and making 3-D shapes from materials is supported by being able to sketch and interpret nets

                • Nets of 3-D Shapes hard

                  Identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations requires understanding the relationship between a net and its solid

            • Types of rocks hard

              Interpreting patterns of Earth's geological features requires rock type and erosion vocabulary

            • Shapes of land and water hard

              Must model landforms and water bodies before analysing map patterns of Earth's features

              • Seasonal changes soft

                Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

            • Erosion and weathering soft

              Understanding weathering/erosion helps explain patterns in Earth's features

              • Types of rocks hard

                Measuring weathering and erosion rates requires 'weathering', 'erosion', and 'deposition' vocabulary

              • Preventing Erosion hard

                Must understand erosion prevention before measuring weathering/erosion effects systematically

              • Properties of materials soft

                Rock properties knowledge supports understanding how weathering breaks down different rocks

          • Earth's Layers hard

            Tectonic plates are pieces of the crust (requires knowing Earth has layers)

            • What Is a Volcano hard

              Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

            • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

              Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

      • Eruption Types & Volcano Shape soft

        Famous eruptions benefit from understanding eruption types

        • Active, Dormant & Extinct hard

          Eruption types build on volcano classification

          • Power of Eruptions soft

            Classification benefits from understanding eruptions vary in power

            • What Is a Volcano soft

              Appreciating eruption power benefits from knowing what a volcano is

          • What Is a Volcano hard

            Classifying volcanoes requires knowing what a volcano is

        • Plate Boundaries soft

          Eruption types benefit from plate boundary context

          • Why Earthquakes Happen hard

            Plate boundaries as earthquake cause builds on simpler causal model

          • Tectonic Plates hard

            Plate boundary mechanisms require knowing what tectonic plates are

            • Ring of Fire hard

              Plate concept explains the patterns of where earthquakes/volcanoes occur

            • Finding patterns in data soft

              Tectonic plates concept benefits from prior map-reading of Earth's features

              • Rock layers and Earth's history soft

                Interpreting maps of Earth surface features is enriched by understanding cross-section views of geological strata and layers

                • 3-D shapes (age 9+) soft

                  Interpreting cross-section diagrams of Earth builds on the skill of identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations

                  • 2-D shapes (age 7+) hard

                    Y3 drawing 2D and making 3D shapes is prerequisite to identifying 3D from 2D representations

                    • Edges, vertices, and faces hard

                      Making/describing 3-D shapes requires knowing their properties (edges, vertices, faces)

                      • 3-D shapes hard

                        Describing 3-D properties (edges, vertices, faces) requires knowing the shapes first

                      • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                        Counting edges, vertices, and faces is reinforced by analysing nets where each face is visible as a separate 2-D shape

                      • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                        Formal property description extends informal analysis of shapes

                    • 2-D shapes (age 6+) hard

                      Drawing 2-D shapes requires knowing their properties

                      • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

                        Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

                      • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                        Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

                    • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                      Drawing 2-D shapes and making 3-D shapes from materials is supported by being able to sketch and interpret nets

                  • Nets of 3-D Shapes hard

                    Identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations requires understanding the relationship between a net and its solid

              • Types of rocks hard

                Interpreting patterns of Earth's geological features requires rock type and erosion vocabulary

              • Shapes of land and water hard

                Must model landforms and water bodies before analysing map patterns of Earth's features

                • Seasonal changes soft

                  Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

              • Erosion and weathering soft

                Understanding weathering/erosion helps explain patterns in Earth's features

                • Types of rocks hard

                  Measuring weathering and erosion rates requires 'weathering', 'erosion', and 'deposition' vocabulary

                • Preventing Erosion hard

                  Must understand erosion prevention before measuring weathering/erosion effects systematically

                  • Shapes of land and water hard

                    Must know about landforms before designing solutions to prevent wind/water erosion

                    • Seasonal changes soft

                      Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

                      • Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft

                        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)

                • Properties of materials soft

                  Rock properties knowledge supports understanding how weathering breaks down different rocks

            • Earth's Layers hard

              Tectonic plates are pieces of the crust (requires knowing Earth has layers)

              • What Is a Volcano hard

                Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

              • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

                Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

        • Inside a Volcano hard

          Eruption types depend on understanding magma and internal volcano structure

          • Earth's Layers hard

            Magma chamber concept requires knowing Earth has hot interior layers

            • What Is a Volcano hard

              Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

            • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

              Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

          • What Is a Volcano hard

            Internal volcano structure builds on basic volcano knowledge

      • Pompeii & Vesuvius hard

        Famous eruptions builds on Pompeii as first historical eruption case study

        • Power of Eruptions hard

          Understanding Pompeii's destruction requires knowing eruptions are powerful

          • What Is a Volcano soft

            Appreciating eruption power benefits from knowing what a volcano is

        • Inside a Volcano soft

          Pompeii story is enriched by understanding volcano internal structure

          • Earth's Layers hard

            Magma chamber concept requires knowing Earth has hot interior layers

            • What Is a Volcano hard

              Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

            • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

              Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

          • What Is a Volcano hard

            Internal volcano structure builds on basic volcano knowledge

        • What Is a Volcano hard

          Pompeii story requires understanding what a volcano is and what eruptions do

      • Tectonic Plates soft

        Continental drift (Pangaea) builds on plate concept

        • Ring of Fire hard

          Plate concept explains the patterns of where earthquakes/volcanoes occur

        • Finding patterns in data soft

          Tectonic plates concept benefits from prior map-reading of Earth's features

          • Rock layers and Earth's history soft

            Interpreting maps of Earth surface features is enriched by understanding cross-section views of geological strata and layers

            • 3-D shapes (age 9+) soft

              Interpreting cross-section diagrams of Earth builds on the skill of identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations

              • 2-D shapes (age 7+) hard

                Y3 drawing 2D and making 3D shapes is prerequisite to identifying 3D from 2D representations

                • Edges, vertices, and faces hard

                  Making/describing 3-D shapes requires knowing their properties (edges, vertices, faces)

                  • 3-D shapes hard

                    Describing 3-D properties (edges, vertices, faces) requires knowing the shapes first

                  • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                    Counting edges, vertices, and faces is reinforced by analysing nets where each face is visible as a separate 2-D shape

                  • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                    Formal property description extends informal analysis of shapes

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                    • 3-D shapes hard

                      Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                • 2-D shapes (age 6+) hard

                  Drawing 2-D shapes requires knowing their properties

                  • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

                    Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

                    • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                      Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                      • 3-D shapes hard

                        Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                  • 2-D shapes hard

                    Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

                  • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                    Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                    • 3-D shapes hard

                      Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

                  Drawing 2-D shapes and making 3-D shapes from materials is supported by being able to sketch and interpret nets

              • Nets of 3-D Shapes hard

                Identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations requires understanding the relationship between a net and its solid

          • Types of rocks hard

            Interpreting patterns of Earth's geological features requires rock type and erosion vocabulary

          • Shapes of land and water hard

            Must model landforms and water bodies before analysing map patterns of Earth's features

            • Seasonal changes soft

              Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

          • Erosion and weathering soft

            Understanding weathering/erosion helps explain patterns in Earth's features

            • Types of rocks hard

              Measuring weathering and erosion rates requires 'weathering', 'erosion', and 'deposition' vocabulary

            • Preventing Erosion hard

              Must understand erosion prevention before measuring weathering/erosion effects systematically

            • Properties of materials soft

              Rock properties knowledge supports understanding how weathering breaks down different rocks

        • Earth's Layers hard

          Tectonic plates are pieces of the crust (requires knowing Earth has layers)

          • What Is a Volcano hard

            Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

          • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

            Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

  • Properties of materials hard

    The rock cycle requires prior knowledge of rock types (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) and their observable properties

  • Rocks and soil soft

    Understanding that soils are derived from weathered rock provides concrete grounding for rock cycle weathering and erosion processes

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