Reader's Theater Science: The Rock Cycle

Narrator: Welcome to our readers theater on the rock cycle. Today, we will explore the fascinating process of how rocks are formed, changed, and recycled on our planet.

Character 1: Hi, I'm a piece of igneous rock. I formed when molten rock (magma) cooled and hardened.

Character 2: And I'm a piece of sedimentary rock. I formed from layers of sediment that piled up and eventually got compressed and cemented together.

Character 3: And I'm a piece of metamorphic rock. I used to be igneous or sedimentary rock, but then I went through a process of heat and pressure that transformed me into something new.

Narrator: These rocks are all part of the rock cycle, a continuous process that describes how rocks are created, transformed, and destroyed over time.

Character 1: That's right. And one of the key processes in the rock cycle is erosion. This is when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by things like wind, water, and ice.

Character 2: Those smaller pieces are called sediment, and they can be transported by rivers and deposited in new locations. Over time, the layers of sediment can become compacted and cemented together, forming sedimentary rocks.

Character 3: But if those sedimentary rocks are buried deep underground and subjected to heat and pressure, they can transform into metamorphic rocks.

Character 1: And if magma rises up from deep within the earth and cools and hardens, it can form igneous rocks like me.

Character 2: But the cycle doesn't end there. Even these rocks can be weathered and eroded over time, turning back into sediment and starting the process all over again.

Narrator: The rock cycle is a never-ending process that takes place all around us, constantly changing and reshaping the surface of our planet.

Glossary:

• Igneous rock: rock formed from cooled and hardened magma
• Sedimentary rock: rock formed from layers of sediment that are compressed and cemented together
• Metamorphic rock: rock that has undergone a transformation through heat and pressure
• Erosion: the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by wind, water, and ice
• Sediment: small pieces of rock that have been eroded and transported by natural processes
• Compact: to be squeezed together and packed tightly
• Cement: to bind materials together with a substance like calcium carbonate or silica
• Weathering: the process by which rocks are broken down and altered by exposure to the elements over time

Narrator: Rocks are all around us, but have you ever wondered where they come from? The answer lies in the rock cycle, a continuous process that forms, breaks down, and re-forms rocks over millions of years.

Character 1: Hey, what's that shiny thing in the ground?

Character 2: It looks like a gem! Gems are special rocks that are prized for their beauty and rarity.

Narrator: Gems are just one type of rock, and there are many others. Rocks are made up of minerals, which are naturally occurring solids with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure.

Character 1: So, how do rocks and minerals form?

Character 3: Rocks and minerals can form in different ways. Some rocks are formed by cooling and solidifying magma or lava, like igneous rocks. Other rocks, like sedimentary rocks, are formed from the accumulation of sediment over time. And still, others, like metamorphic rocks, are formed from the heat and pressure of deep within the Earth's crust.

Narrator: Once rocks are formed, they can go through changes due to different factors like weathering, erosion, and heat and pressure. This process is called the rock cycle.

Character 2: So, what happens in the rock cycle?

Narrator: Well, rocks can be weathered and eroded into sediments, which can then be compacted and cemented together to form sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks can then be exposed to heat and pressure, causing them to transform into metamorphic rocks. And any type of rock can melt and become magma, which can then cool and solidify to form igneous rocks.

Character 3: Wow, the rock cycle is like a never-ending process!

Narrator: That's right! And throughout the rock cycle, rocks and minerals can form and transform into beautiful gems, like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

Glossary:

• Gems: special rocks that are prized for their beauty and rarity
• Minerals: naturally occurring solids with a specific chemical composition and crystal structure
• Igneous rocks: rocks formed by cooling and solidifying magma or lava
• Sedimentary rocks: rocks formed from the accumulation of sediment over time
• Metamorphic rocks: rocks formed from the heat and pressure of deep within the Earth's crust
• Weathering: the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces due to exposure to weather
• Erosion: the movement of weathered rock and sediment by wind, water, or other forces
• Magma: molten rock beneath the Earth's surface